Hello there everyone!

I'm here with the next chapter for you all. After the last one, I know a few of you were a little apprehensive about Gabby and Matt getting back to work, while others thought that it was time, so you all will get to see in this one how that all plays out. Along with some Casey family storylines that I think you'll like.

But that's about all I've got, thank you all so much for reading. I hope you guys like this chapter, and I can't wait to hear your thoughts.

Have a great week everyone!

Chapter One Hundred and Forty One

Caitlyn's eyes followed her dad around the room as she sat at the kitchen table, the breakfast in front of her not all that appealing as she was more focused on what her parents were doing than anything else. She'd eaten maybe a few bites of her waffle, and some of the fruit, but for the most part she wasn't all that hungry, even though her dad had prompted her to keep eating multiple times when he'd come by the table to check on her and Sofia. But she just didn't feel like it, not when there were what she only knew to describe as butterflies in her tummy.

It was a weird feeling, one she didn't really understand, but it made her not want to eat. So she'd taken to watching her parents instead; or one of her parents, as she hadn't seen her mom since she'd helped her get ready for school. But her dad was out here, Matt frequently going back and forth between her and his little sister, and the bedroom where she knew her mom was. Though the last time he'd come back out here, he was already dressed, like she was. Except he was back in the clothes she knew he wore to work.

And though she didn't realize it at the time, the sight of him in his uniform was only making the feeling in her stomach worse.

"Alright Becca, are you good to watch them for a minute?" Matt asked their nanny as he began walking back towards the bedroom, Becca nodding as she stepped away from her spot in the kitchen where she'd been washing a few of the girls' dishes.

"Yeah, of course." She replied, her words earning a nod from Casey before he disappeared into the other room, Caitlyn watching him until he was out of sight. But even then, her gaze didn't leave the open bedroom door, Caity completely focused on waiting till one, or both, of her parents came back, until Becca's voice managed to gain her attention. "Is there something else you'd like for breakfast, Caitlyn?" She asked, the little girl slowly looking towards her as Becca too had realized she wasn't eating. "Do you want some oatmeal, or some eggs? I can make you anything." She offered her with a soft smile, but Caity merely shook her head.

"No thank you." She responded politely, Becca pausing for a moment before she nodded, the older woman glancing over to see Sofia had all but demolished her own breakfast.

"Okay... Well if that changes, just let me know." The nanny told her, Caitlyn nodding before her focus went back towards her parent's room, her eyebrows knitting together as she continued to wait for them to come back.

But after a while, she was tired of waiting, Caitlyn huffing out a breath before she carefully slid down out of her seat and began to walk towards their bedroom. Her little steps were quiet, and the closer she got, the more she was able to hear her parents' talking, the sound of their voices already helping to settle her a bit before she came to a stop in their doorway.

They were both moving around the room, already dressed for the day as they continued talking about what sounded like work, though Caitlyn only understood part of it. But she was less focused on what they were saying, and more interested in just being with her parents, as she knew that here soon they'd be leaving her until tomorrow. And she didn't really like the idea of it, she hadn't ever since they told her a few days ago that they were going back to work.

Taking a few more steps into their bedroom, she continued looking back and forth between them while they finished getting ready, as neither parent had noticed her yet. Not until Gabby caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of her eye as she was heading for the closet.

"Hey sweetheart." She greeted with a soft smile, her words causing Matt to stop as well as he looked over towards their oldest, a similar look covering his face when their daughter took a few more steps into the room. But that grin on Dawson's face soon fell when she noticed the pensive look in Caity's eyes. "...Everything okay?" She asked, Gabby beginning the short walk towards her while Matt followed behind.

"Are you going to work soon?" She questioned them, even though she already knew the answer as an understanding look crossed Gabby's features.

"We are, honey." She answered, Gabby sitting down on the edge of the bench at the end of their bed before holding her arm out towards Caitlyn, the gesture prompting her daughter to come closer.

"Do you have to?" She pressed, her voice sounding more uncertain than either of them would've liked as she came to a stop in front of her mom, the little girl standing in between her legs before resting her weight against Gabby's thigh.

Pursing her lips together, Gabby breathed in deeply before glancing towards her husband, the woman seeing a similarly unsure look in his eyes as well, as she knew this was a big step for all of them.

The minute they'd started talking about returning to work, Gabby knew this day would be hard. That their first day back was bound to have them all feeling a little anxious, and she knew that's exactly what was going on with Caitlyn. It was hard to miss anyway, as Gabby and Matt both were very perceptive of their daughter's emotions. But even if they hadn't realized it on their own, at a few of Caitlyn's recent therapy sessions, Lara had confirmed that's exactly what was going on.

They hadn't been in a while because of the accident, but once Gabby felt up for it, they'd gone to take Caity to see her therapist a couple times, as they knew she was still having a hard time with the accident and almost losing her mom. That because of her struggles with abandonment and losing loved ones in the past, what happened to Gabby had been a lot on her. And with those feelings, they wanted to make sure that not only was she getting help, but that Matt and Gabby were both doing all they could to help her as well. So they'd had a few sessions here and there, and every time they arrived at the same conclusion; that Caitlyn was alright, but she was worried about them going back to work. Because in her mind, she associated them working with everything bad that had happened to Gabby, and it would take time for that to go away. But after what she went through, they didn't blame her for that at all.

Especially when Gabby and Matt were both still feeling a little apprehensive, as well.

But despite those feelings, the parents still felt like this was a step they needed to take. That it was the right time for them, as Gabby had gotten the official all clear after her appointment over the phone with Dr. Jennings. And even though there was still some uncertainty, they knew it was time for them to get back to work and try and finally start to put this all behind them.

And they knew Caitlyn needed to do the same. That she wouldn't start to feel better until they got back into their routine, where they could go into work and she saw they were fine. Where she had the assurance directly in front of her that Matt and Gabby could go back to the firehouse, and nothing bad would happen. And until she had that, they knew she wouldn't be able to start moving past this. At least not in all the ways she needed to.

Caitlyn was like her parents in that way, as that feeling was the same for them too, which is exactly why they were doing this. And Gabby could only hope, that with time and a few shifts under their belt, that all three of them would start to feel better.

"We do, baby." Matt answered her question, the look on Caitlyn's face tightening before she gave them a slow nod. "But remember what we've told you, alright? We're gonna be fine… The firehouse is a safe place, okay? It's not bad." He reminded her in simpler terms, as they knew it was easier for her to grasp what they were saying.

"It's not bad." She repeated, the parents nodding in response as Gabby ran her hand along her back.

"It's not… But I know all of this was really scary." Gabby told her, Caitlyn nodding in agreement as the mother lifted her free hand up to brush a few strands of hair behind her daughter's ear. "And it's okay to be a little scared now, about us going back. Mommy and Daddy are, too." She spoke honestly, Matt noticing how his wife's words seemed to help Caitlyn relax. "But everything's gonna be okay… I'm okay." She assured her, as she did want she could to help alleviate some of those lingering fears Caity still had.

"Momma's gonna be fine, baby." Matt added on as Caitlyn looked towards him, the father offering her a gentle, yet supportive smile.

"You promise?" She pushed, the innocence in her voice causing Gabby's chest to tighten as she thought over how to best respond, Dawson not wanting to lie to her daughter.

Her job wasn't as dangerous as Matt's, she knew that. But if the accident taught her anything, it's that nothing was a guarantee. That everything could change in an instant, as she was still putting her life on the line every time she got into that ambulance.

And she couldn't pretend that she wasn't.

"I promise that I'll always try to be safe, alright?" She spoke honestly after a moment, before she felt Matt reach down to hold onto her shoulder. "That I'll do everything I can to always get back home to you and Sof. But I'm fine right now, everything's okay." She finished, Gabby drawing in a slow breath as she could see Caitlyn thinking over her words, before she ultimately nodded.

"Okay." She murmured somewhat hesitantly, Gabby nodding once more before she leaned forward to press a gentle kiss against her forehead.

"Everything's alright, baby." She whispered.

"And remember, Becca is gonna bring you and Sof by the firehouse after school, yeah?" Matt reminded her softly of the plans they'd made the second they decided to go back, as they knew it would be good for both girls to not only see them, but for Caitlyn especially to see them at work. "That way you can come and spend some time with us, when we're not working."

"Okay Daddy." She repeated, her eyes moving between them before she leaned forward to wrap Gabby up in a hug, the mother almost instantly reciprocating the gesture as she ran her hand over Caitlyn's back. "I love you, Mommy."

Her voice was quiet and hard to hear, but both parents managed to make out what she said, her words causing Gabby's eyes to fall closed for a split second before she held onto her a little tighter.

"I love you too, Caity." She responded, Gabby hugging her for as long as she needed as she knew this was a difficult day for their oldest.

And this was how they stayed for a few more minutes, Caitlyn wanting to soak up these last few moments with her parents, as both Matt and Gabby had done all they could to reassure her that everything would be fine.

They just hoped she'd believe it.

Gabby blew out a soft sigh as Matt put his truck into park outside the firehouse, the cloudy and gloomy day somewhat mirroring how she felt as she looked over at the building she hadn't seen in a while, her eyes watching as a few familiar faces were heading inside. It was a bit of a weird feeling being back here, she couldn't pretend it wasn't, and their conversation with Caitlyn this morning hadn't made things any easier. But just like her and Matt had talked about multiple times, they knew this would be hard. Coming back here and working again, it was going to be difficult on them; both physically and mentally.

But it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. She could push through it, or at least she felt like she could. Because they were here, they were ready to work, as much as they were gonna be anyway, so now all that was left for her was to actually do it.

She was pulled from her thoughts when she felt Matt reach out for her head, Gabby glancing towards her husband to find him watching her with a soft smile on his face, though she could see the hesitation shining in his eyes.

"You sure you're ready for this?" He asked her, Gabby taking another breath before she slowly nodded, Matt matching her look as he gave her hand a supportive squeeze.

"Are you?" She questioned back, Matt pausing for a moment before he nodded as well.

"I think so." He answered honestly as Gabby ran her thumb along his finger.

"Alright… But remember, if that changes…"

"I'll tell you." He finished for her, the two sharing a gentle smile. "And the same goes for you."

"I know, babe." She replied, Matt breathing in deeply before he lifted her hand up to press a soft kiss against her skin.

"Okay… Well, then I guess we better get in there." Matt prompted, Gabby nodding in response before they began the process of exiting his truck and gathering their things.

They were moving pretty slowly, and when it took Gabby a few minutes to get all of her stuff together, Matt began to get the feeling that all of this was starting to catch up with her. That those nerves about being back here were beginning to settle in. But he didn't say a word, Casey opting to be a silent, supportive presence by her side as she finally stepped away from the truck and onto the sidewalk, Gabby giving him a weak smile before she started the trek up to the firehouse.

It only took a few steps for Matt to reach for her hand, their fingers lacing together as Gabby shot him a thankful look, before they continued inside. But the closer they got, the more Gabby felt what she could also describe as a tightness in her chest, more and more nerves continuing to flood her body with every step. Though she was doing her best to fight it off, as Gabby had expected this. She'd expected this to be a challenging thing for her, being back at the firehouse for the first time since the accident that had completely changed their lives.

But expectations were far different from reality, as she was coming to understand that this step was going to be harder than she thought, given the way her stomach nearly dropped as 61 came into view.

"You okay?" Matt asked her, like he was able to sense her anxiety, Gabby sucking in a slow, steadying breath before she nodded.

"Yeah, yeah I'm good." She responded as they walked into the garage, her eyes lingering on the rig for a moment before they continued on, Gabby feeling that some of the pressure in her chest was starting to lessen the further they got into the firehouse. And she hoped that was something that would continue as the day went on. "It's just kind of hard, but I'm alright."

"I know it is, baby." He murmured, Matt halting their steps to press a kiss against the side of her head, before they kept going, the empty garage a sign that everyone was likely inside by now as they followed that familiar path to the common room.

And the second they opened the doors, cheers immediately erupted throughout the house as everyone had been waiting for them to arrive, Matt chuckling softly as he followed Gabby through the doorway, taking the few remaining steps to the common room.

"There they are!" Joe called from his seat at the back table, Matt bringing his hand up to run along Gabby's back, the two of them taking in the sight of all their friends crowded around the room, along with the welcome back sign hanging up in the kitchen that was accompanied by some balloons.

"What is all this?" Gabby asked as Herrmann was the first to approach her, the older man pulling her in for a tight, yet gentle hug.

"We felt it was appropriate for the occasion." He responded, Gabby smiling softly as they pulled back. "Or Jemma did… but we all pitched in." He admitted with a laugh.

"Yeah, that makes more sense." Matt responded as Herrmann gave him a quick hug, Gabby finding her best friend's eyes across the room before mouthing a quick 'thank you', just as Mouch brought her in for a hug as well. "But you really didn't have to do anything."

"Of course we did." Boden spoke as he came up beside Casey. "You all getting back to work is a big deal, it felt right to celebrate."

"Yeah, especially since we didn't really do anything your first time back, Casey." Severide joked lightly, his words earning a few cautious laughs from the other first responders, like they weren't sure how to handle that topic coming up. But when Casey shot him a lighthearted glare, they all relaxed, as it was clear Matt was doing better than the last time they saw him. "Figured we shouldn't leave you hanging two times in a row." He added, Matt scoffing in response before nodding.

"Alright, well thanks… I think." He spoke jokingly as their friends continued to come up to greet them, Gabby and Matt both noticing how they were already feeling a little more at ease being back in the firehouse, even if it was just a little bit.

"Thank you for all this, Jemma." Gabby murmured just as they met for a hug, their greeting not as long as it had been just a few days since they last saw each other. But still, Matt couldn't help but smile as he watched his wife with her best friend, the man knowing how Jemma's presence was a big part of why Gabby felt like she could come back here.

They hadn't talked much about it, at least not him and Gabby, as Matt had mentioned it to Jemma once or twice, but the husband knew how much easier Norris being here made it on Gabby. That having her at 51 and back on that rig with her made all the difference, and helped Gabby feel comfortable enough to get back to work. And it meant everything to Matt, too. He completely trusted Jemma, as a friend and as a paramedic, and he always had. And because of that, he couldn't think of a better partner to be working alongside Gabby.

And he knew they were both excited to work together again, too.

"Eh, it was nothing." Norris replied once they separated. "We're just so glad to have you back, I'm so glad you're back."

"Yeah, we've got Dawson and Norris back on the same rig again," Herrmann called out, Gabby shaking her head as she met Matt's teasing stare. "We all know what that means, nothing but trouble."

"Oh, for sure." Cruz chimed in, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly before huffing out a breath. "We had a taste of it those few shifts back when Jemma joined the department, but you two together all the time? Lord help us all."

"Yeah, I think I liked it better when you all were talking about how nice it was to have me back." Dawson replied without missing a beat, her words earning more laughs from her friends just as Jemma wrapped her arm around Gabby's shoulders.

"We're just messing with you, Dawson. If anything, having you two working together, you being back, it will make things feel a little bit more normal around here." Herrmann told her, his tone turning a bit serious as he stood in front of her and Matt. "After what happened, it was hard not having you here… It was hard without all three of you, but-" He trailed off, the man shaking his head as everyone watched him. "I know nothing can ever change what happened that day, but all I do know is I'm sure as hell glad that you're alright, Gabby. And that you're feeling ready to get back here." He spoke, his sentimental words hitting all of them harder than anyone anticipated, as it was still hard to relive that day. Though it was harder for some more than others.

"I'm glad too, Herrmann." She responded after a moment, Jemma rubbing over her shoulder gently as a source of comfort, the younger paramedic knowing to still take it a little easier with her.

"Herrmann's right, Dawson." Boden chimed in, before everyone in the room turned his way. "We're all so grateful to have you here… The both of you."

"Us too, Chief." Casey responded as Boden clasped his shoulder, Gabby nodding in agreement before a small smile appeared over her face.

"Thanks Chief." She replied quietly, the two exchanging a knowing look before Herrmann spoke up again, clearly trying to diffuse some of the heaviness that he'd unintentionally brought into the room.

"Well, now that we've got the welcomes out of the way, how about we dig into some of the pastries Kidd brought? She even got your favorite type of danish, Dawson." He spoke lightly, Gabby raising her eyebrows before she nodded.

"Sounds great, Herrmann. Just let me-"

She was cut off by the sound of the bells going off above their heads, Matt's spine straightening when he heard Ambulance 61 get called out to a person in distress, the entire room going quiet as all eyes went to Dawson. Who, from what they could tell, seemed fine. But Matt knew better, as the second she registered the call, there was a flicker of uncertainty in her eyes, despite the fact she quickly tried to mask it.

"Actually, I guess that'll have to wait… You mind putting my stuff away?" Gabby asked as she turned to Matt, while sliding her shift bag down off her shoulder.

"No, not at all." He told her, their eyes staying locked on one another's for a second longer, like they were having a conversation meant only for them. But it was enough to give him the reassurance he needed that she was alright, Gabby giving him one last smile before she followed Jemma out of the common room, the third paramedic on ambo hurrying after them as they disappeared into the garage.

After a few moments, the crowd in the firehouse began to disperse, everyone starting to go back to what they'd been doing before Casey and Dawson arrived at the house. But Matt hadn't moved, not yet, as he stood in his spot looking out towards the garage, even though he hadn't been able to see Gabby for a while.

"Is she ready to be here?"

The sound of Kelly's voice pulled Casey from his thoughts, Matt turning back to look at him, only to find Boden still standing there as well, neither man having moved from their spot since 61 rolled out. And that was something the Captain soon became mindful of, as he didn't want to say too much while he thought over how to respond.

"She says she is." He eventually settled on, Severide and Boden sharing a look before the Lieutenant spoke once more.

"And are you?" He pressed, gaining Casey's attention once more as their gazes locked on one another, the weight of his question hard to ignore.

"I…" He started, but he had to stop himself as his eyebrows knitted together tightly, like he was trying to find the right words to say. "I'll feel better once she does."

His statement was vague, but both men knew what he meant as they, more than most, knew how badly Matt had been struggling with what happened to Gabby. That he still worried for his wife after what she'd gone through. So his answer wasn't surprising to either of them, but both Kelly and the Chief could only hope that Casey, and Dawson both, would start to feel better once the paramedic had gone on a few calls. That once they both got settled into being back at the firehouse, it would start to get a little easier for them.

But they knew it would take some time before they got there.

Dawson's leg bounced up and down slightly while she sat in the passenger seat of the ambulance, her eyes occasionally moving towards Jemma as she skillfully navigated her way through the morning traffic of Chicago, their sirens blaring loudly as they hurried to their destination. It was a little chaotic trying to get through everyone on their way to work, but Norris was handling it well, the paramedic as mindful of the traffic as she could be while also getting them to whoever needed their help.

But despite her competent driving, Gabby couldn't help the tight feeling in her gut as she watched the road in front of her, as the last time she'd been in this ambulance, things had gone horribly, horribly wrong. Though technically, she knew it wasn't even the same rig, as from what she'd been told, the former 61 was nothing but scrap metal by the time they'd gotten her and her partners out of it. But that didn't so much matter, as to her it felt the same, Gabby's eyes closing for a moment while she tried to push down the thought of how the last time she'd been in one of these rigs, it nearly killed her.

It did kill her, according to Matt.

And confronting that had hit her a little harder than she expected.

But thankfully, those feelings only lasted so long before they began to pass, the rational part of Gabby's brain taking over as her grip on the side of the door started to loosen by the second.

You're fine, you're okay. Nothing bad is going to happen.

She kept repeating those words over and over in her mind, Gabby taking deep, steadying breaths as her body slowly started to relax, the uneasiness in her stomach that had been there since they got called out finally starting to leave her system. And by the time Jemma pulled up to the scene maybe a minute later, she felt ready enough to do this, Gabby blowing out one more breath before she hopped down from the rig.

"Dawson, grab the ambo bag. Anderson, get the gurney." Jemma ordered the second she was firmly on the ground, before she began heading towards the patient, Gabby complying easily before following after her. "Ma'am, can you tell me what happened?" Norris asked as she squatted down on the ground next to the woman, though from first glance it looked pretty clear as to what had happened as she was dressed in workout gear, with her bike partially on top of her.

"I was going for my morning ride, when some jerk got too close and I- Ahh." She gasped in pain as Jemma tried to access her arm, which seemed to be the worse of her injuries, from what they both could tell.

"I'm sorry, I know this hurts… It looks like your arm took the brunt of the impact when you fell." She explained, the woman giving her a nod before Norris glanced towards Dawson. "But we're gonna get you something for that, alright? Before we get you bandaged up and to the hospital." Jemma continued while Gabby got the drugs ready, the injured woman nodding once more. "Can you tell me your name?"

"Ava." She replied through gritted teeth just before Gabby stuck her with the needle. And the second she did, it was like they could feel her relief, Ava releasing a heavy sigh as she relaxed back on the pavement.

"Alright Ava, my name's Jemma. And this is my partner Gabby, and my other partner Claire, and we're gonna help you out, okay? I imagine you're feeling a little better already… But we'll still need to get you looked at."

"Okay." Ava replied, Jemma giving her a nod before she began bandaging her arm as Gabby helped her with the supplies.

And from then on out it was a pretty typical call, Ava accepting their help as they got all her immediate injuries looked at, before getting her up on the gurney and into the back of the ambulance, Anderson monitoring her in the back while Norris and Dawson rode up front. Soon enough they'd made it to med, everything moving rather quickly from there as they completed the hand off before Jemma and Dawson made their way to the nurses station to fill out the paperwork, while Anderson worked on some restocking to keep herself busy.

"Well, as first calls back go, that was relatively easy." Jemma spoke up as she worked on the papers in front of her, Gabby resting her weight into the counter while her gaze was focused on her friend's writing.

"Yeah, it wasn't too bad." She responded, Norris pausing her task for a moment to look up towards her friends, her eyes tracing over her face, like she was trying to get a read on her before she nodded. "Getting back out there and everything… Though from what I saw, I'm not sure you even need me anymore." She added on lightly, Jemma raising her eyebrows as her head cocked to the side. "After all this, Boden might want to let you be the PIC… You did great out there today, I'd say you've earned it."

"Okay, well I don't know about all that." She immediately replied with a shake of her head, Gabby opening her mouth to counter her. But she never got the chance before Jemma continued, the paramedic placing her pen down on the thick stack of paper as she looked at Dawson. "If I'm any good at all, it's because of you… I'm the paramedic I am today because of you. I one hundred percent believe that." She told her, her sincere words flooding Gabby's chest with warmth before she nodded. "I'm happy to take on this role as long as I need to, until you feel ready, but this is your job, Gabby. And it always will be." She spoke surely, the look in her eyes telling Dawson that she completely believed what she was saying. And that alone brought a soft smile to her face, Gabby nodding slowly once more as Norris reached out to rub over her arm.

"Thanks Jemma."

"Nothing to thank me for... Though, seeing as how I am your PIC right now," She started with a slight grin, Gabby chuckling softly as she shifted her weight between her feet. "I would like to know how you think things went out there." She continued, her words holding a lot more meaning than what showed on the surface as they both knew what she was really asking her partner. "I mean, past you thinking it wasn't too bad. You seemed to do well, but after making it through your first call, how are you doing?" She finished her thought, the concern in her voice evident as Gabby mulled over how to best answer her.

"It was alright." She finally settled on, Jemma nodding as she angled her body towards her friend. "Things were a little hard for me at first… More than I thought they'd be, I guess, but a lot of that is just stuff I've gotta get over. Work through on my own, you know?" She explained, Jemma immediately nodding in understanding. "But I feel good… I think it went well, all things considered."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She repeated with a soft grin, Jemma matching her look before she nodded, the temporary PIC turning back to fill out the last few lines of their paperwork.

"Good." She spoke as she signed one last thing before handing the papers over to the nurse, Jemma taking a slight step away from the counter before guiding Dawson to come with her. "Now that that's done, let's get you back to that husband of yours, so he can hear all that from you." She spoke with a noticeable twinkle in her eye, Gabby laughing softly before she gave her a nod, the two women stopping to grab Anderson before they headed back out to the ambulance.

"Otis, those were meant for Dawson, so if you could maybe try and at least save her one." Cruz chastised from his spot at the table, the mention of his wife's name causing Casey to look back towards the kitchen just as Otis was shoving another danish into his mouth, the Captain shaking his head before he returned his attention back down towards his phone.

"It's alright, Otis." Gabby spoke from beside Matt, her arm brushing against his gently as she turned back to look at her friend. "I had one when we got back from our first call, when you all were out… Have as many as you want." She told him, Otis shooting her an appreciative grin before giving her a thumbs up, the man soon going back to his early afternoon snack, while Gabby faced forward once more.

When she turned, she caught a glimpse of her husband's stares, Gabby offering him a small smile as she leaned her head down to rest her chin against his shoulder, Matt matching her grin before he pressed a soft kiss against her head. And though he wasn't quite sure how comfortable the position was for her, Gabby made no effort to move, her close contact relaxing him as his mind wandered back to the start of their day.

Though they were well into their first shift already, it had actually been pretty easy on them, under the circumstances. There had been some challenges they'd had to overcome at the beginning of the day, but their light workload had helped in not pushing them too much as it was a relatively slow day for Firehouse 51. At least so far, it hadn't been nearly as busy as either of them remembered, as truck had only been out on call one, and ambo only had three.

For all intents and purposes, it was about as easy of a shift as you could get, and, selfishly, Casey was very grateful for that. Given what he and Gabby were dealing with, he couldn't have asked for a better first shift back for them, as the slower pace made adjusting to being back a little more manageable.

It was tough at first, for the both of them, there was no denying that. From Gabby's own account, he knew how difficult that first call had been. How being back in that rig kind of threw her, more than she'd care to admit. But still, she did. The second they saw each other, when truck had returned from their one and only call, Gabby told him what happened, and how she felt being out there today. She'd come to him, just like she promised she would.

And Matt had done the same for her.

Though, surprisingly, he hadn't struggled nearly as much as he was expecting, not out on the call at least. For whatever reason, he'd managed to handle himself pretty well out there; a lot better than he had the last time he was here. He wasn't sure if it was because he felt more secure in knowing Gabby was alright, that having her here with him had helped him let go of some of that worry. Or if it had something to do with Herrmann running things, the older man taking charge while Matt was able to stay focused and do what was asked of him, instead of having to worry about leading everyone else.

Truthfully he wasn't sure the reason, though he also knew it could've been a mixture of all of them. But regardless, he was feeling pretty good about being back, as he had done well to tread lightly back into the job. They both had, given that their new roles on their respective rigs had allowed them the room to take things slow.

They weren't sure how long these positions would last, or how long it would take them to feel ready to take back on those leadership roles, but for right now this was working for them. Matt was able to take things slow, while Gabby had the added benefit of an extra set of hands, to be there to help Jemma if something came along that she couldn't handle. Neither of them were sure if that was a permanent thing, as there had been three medics on the rig before the accident, or if they were solely doing it until Gabby was ready to reclaim her role as the PIC, they had no idea. But for now, this is how things would be.

And with Herrmann running truck for the time being, and Jemma in charge of the ambulance, along with the extra paramedic on 61, Matt and Gabby were both able to ease back into this at their own pace. Which had seemed to help them more than anything, as their nerves had certainly settled a bit as the day went on.

So much so, that the thing Matt was most worried about now when it came to Gabby wasn't even how she was responding to the job mentally, but physically, as her body's limitations were something that had concerned him since the start. Even without her confiding in him that she felt a little worn out already, he would've been able to tell just by looking at her. Though they hadn't had many calls, it was clear her body just wasn't used to the pace of their jobs, not after everything she'd endured.

But each time he'd asked her about it, she said she was fine. That it was just some lingering soreness, and she needed some time to get back into it. That there was nothing else wrong aside from the fact her body wasn't the same as it used to be. So he tried to leave it alone, Matt knowing the last thing that would help her today was him breathing down her neck over something like this… Though that still wouldn't stop him from keeping an eye on her, and making sure her occasional tiredness didn't turn into something more as shift went on.

But aside from that, and the uneasiness they'd started the day with, everything had gone better than expected. And that was all he wanted for them, as it gave him the confidence in knowing that they had made the right choice, Matt drawing in a deep breath before he pressed another kiss to his wife's head.

"Mommy! Daddy!"

Matt and Gabby both looked up at the familiar voice to see Caitlyn running into the common room, her baby sister following behind her with the same determination while Becca came in last. And the second everyone saw them, the room broke out into wide smiles, as it had been a long time since most anyone from the firehouse had seen the girls.

"Dada! Mama!" Sofia nearly shrieked out of excitement just as Caitlyn got to them, the parents sharing a knowing look before refocusing their attention on their children.

The morning had definitely gotten away from them, as neither parent realized it was already time for their girls to be here. But when Matt lifted Caitlyn up in Gabby's lap, before pulling Sofia up into his, they couldn't be happier to have them here, as they were forever grateful for every moment they got with their children.

"Hi sweet girl." Gabby greeted just as Caitlyn gave her a hug, the mother rubbing along her back before looking over towards Sofia, who was currently captivated by Matt. "And hello to you my other sweet girl." She spoke, reaching out towards her youngest to run her hand along Sofia's cheek, the action earning happy giggles from the baby before she dug her face into her father's chest.

"Hi Mommy." Caitlyn greeted once more as she rested her hand against her mom's chest, Gabby refocusing her attention on the five year old while she got comfortable in her lap, her brown eyes moving over Dawson's face thoughtfully before she spoke up once more. "...You're okay?"

It was more of a statement than a question, but the few words nearly broke their hearts, as both Matt and Gabby were realizing how she must've been worried about them all day. That she'd been worried about Gabby all day, as an overwhelming amount of guilt began to sweep through her system.

They knew this was just part of it, that Caitlyn would have to adjust to them being back just as they would, but that knowledge still didn't make this any easier. Not when Caitlyn was as concerned for their safety as she was. But all they could do was make sure she knew everything was fine, and that she had no reason to worry about them anymore, as a soft, yet reassuring smile formed over Gabby's face while she stroked the side of her daughter's head.

"I am, Caity." She told her, Gabby oblivious to the fact that all eyes in the room were on them right now, as no one was able to look away from the tender, yet painful scene. "I'm okay, and your Daddy's okay… We're all alright, I promise." She assured her, Caitlyn pausing for a moment before she nodded, the little girl leaning in to give her a kiss before she wrapped her arms around her neck. "Everything's okay, baby." She whispered the same words she'd told her this morning, knowing Caitlyn needed to hear it one more time.

"Okay." She responded quietly, the little girl tucking her head down against Gabby's neck. "I missed you." She added on in a whisper, Gabby unable to stop the soft smile that formed across her face as Matt reached out to give Caity's leg a gentle squeeze, while also making sure Sofia stayed balanced in his lap. But before either of her parents could respond, Caitlyn pulled back a bit to look between her parents, both of them noticing the sly grin that soon formed around her face, the child obviously in better spirits now that she knew her mom was okay. "...Did you and Daddy miss me?"

Matt chuckled softly as the smirk on the five year old's face widened, Gabby cocking her head to the side as she watched her husband reach out to tickle Caitlyn, his movements earning loud laughs from her before she shied away from his touch.

"Of course we did, honey." Gabby responded lightly once Matt was done having his fun, Caitlyn playfully scolding her dad before looking back towards her mom. "We missed you, and Sof, but we're so glad you're here… Did you have a good day at school?" She asked her, as Matt caught the gazes of a few of their coworkers.

"Yeah, I did. We did numbers and painted." She replied with a gentle smile, Gabby continuing her methodical movements along Caity's back while she spoke. "I made a picture for Sof." The young girl added on proudly. "It's me and her on my birthday."

"That's really sweet of you, baby."

"Ahh yeah, the big day is coming up. Are you looking forward to your birthday, kid?" Herrmann spoke up, Caitlyn's head whipping around as a bright smile formed over her face, before she began to nod enthusiastically.

"Yeah!" She replied happily, her pure excitement causing Matt and Gabby to share a warm look.

It's something they'd been counting down with her for awhile, Caitlyn getting more and more eager by the day for her birthday. And now they were only a few days away, from both her birthday and her party. With her special day falling on a Sunday this year, they decided to just have her party the same day, given it was also a day that they were off shift. It all seemed to work out perfectly, so the parents had been working on getting everything planned and ready to go, with some help from their friends, so their little girl would be able to have the best birthday ever.

"How old are you gonna be, Caitlyn?" Cruz asked her, even though everyone in the firehouse already knew the answer. But that didn't stop the elation that covered her features when being asked.

"I'm gonna be six!" She replied proudly, Joe nodding with a smile on his face as Caitlyn adjusted herself in her mom's lap. "Mommy and Daddy said I'm having a party." She continued on, Gabby smiling softly before she moved to press another kiss to the side of her head.

"You are, baby. A big party with all your friends, and all our friends are gonna be there, too." He reminded her, the joy on her face causing everyone in the room to smile as they loved the sight of her so happy.

"I'm so excited." She spoke brightly, the girl nearly shaking in her seat as she couldn't contain her enthusiasm, her words earning a few laughs from around the room.

"We know you are, honey." Matt replied, Caitlyn nodding happily before leaning herself back into Gabby's chest. "We're all excited for your birthday."

"Even Sof?" She asked, Gabby having to stifle a laugh at the seriousness of her words, Matt biting back a grin before he nodded.

"Yeah sweetheart, even Sof." He responded, the sound of her name gaining Sofia's attention as she looked up towards her dad. "Yes baby, I'm talking about you." He told her, running his hand through her curls before placing a kiss on her forehead.

But before anything else was said, the sound of the bells going off rang through the firehouse, neither child liking them very much as they still got a bit startled by them, Sofia especially as the baby immediately whined before snuggling into her dad for protection.

"It's okay, baby." He spoke, Gabby giving a similar reminder to Caitlyn as both girls held onto their parents.

"Do you have to leave?" Caity asked while Matt and Gabby listened to the call, a soft smile covering Casey's face when he heard that only squad and engine were needed.

"No baby, that's not for us." He told her, both of them seeing the moment that small grin returned to her face. "We can stay here with you and your sister, at least for now."

"Good!" She replied happily, just as Severide stopped by them to give Caitlyn and Sofia both a quick kiss on the head goodbye, both girls loving the attention from their godfather before he left. "Bye Uncle Kelly!" Caitlyn called after him, Sofia doing her best to repeat her words even though they came out a little unintelligible.

"Goodbye Caity, goodbye Sof." He responded back before disappearing out into the garage.

"Man, they have him wrapped around their fingers." Herrmann spoke with a laugh, Casey nodding in agreement.

"Yeah, I'll say." Jemma chimed in, as she had seen more than most just how loved the Casey girls were by their Uncle Kelly.

"Mommy, guess what?" Caitlyn spoke up, her little voice gaining both her parent's attention as Gabby raised her eyebrows.

"What?"

"I didn't tell you the funnest part of school," She started, her words earning a soft laugh from her dad. "Miss Brooke said tomorrow we're having cupcakes! For me!"

"Really?" Gabby asked back with just as much excitement, Caitlyn nodding with a bright smile on her face. "Wow, that's so nice. You'll have to tell her thank you." She told her, as Caitlyn nodded, the child beginning to play with the collar on Gabby's jacket while they sat there. "Did you all do anything else today?" She questioned more once, Caitlyn thinking over her words before she nodded with that same elated grin.

And while Caitlyn began to explain the rest of her day to her parents, she had the attention of the entire room as well, the firehouse family happy to sit and listen as she talked about her day at school, while Matt and Gabby sat with their girls. And though they couldn't be sure how much time they had before they'd have to leave, they made sure to enjoy every moment they could with their little girls, as Caitlyn and Sofia were both happy to get this time with them, too.