CHAPTER 11
"Where is he?" Gabby required.
"He was here a few minutes ago to give me the spare key, then he left... It's clear to me he is upset for what happened between you two... things left unsaid.." said Antonio.
Gabby likes him, though, she doesn't know what make of it... Her apartment was an amazing surprise, but the way Matt got involved in this, making something up to know her, asking her on a date... it was unusual.
"He said something for you about me?".
"Yeah, he did, but I think he should be the one telling you, not me, Gabby. Please, call him!".
Laura was serving the cake to Eva and Diego as Gabby and Antonio were talking in front of the apartment's window.
"It's not a good idea, I guess it's better this way,... he is not here, it means something..., right?". She was hurt that he wasn't there, a few tears rolled down her face.
...
Firehouse 87...
"Hey, sis... I just called to ask how have you been... Please, have dinner with us tomorrow, we miss you. Love you, have a good day".
Gabby has been missing them either, yet she loved having her own space.
"Hey, when you are going to Firehouse 51?" Denise queried.
"I don't know. It might not happen? I like here, we make a good team...", Gabby said smiling.
"You bet, let's have breakfast, then we do the inventory, okay?"
"Okay."
...
Christie's house...
"So... are you still down with everything that happened. Please, don't say you are fine, because I know you...".
He was washing the dishes as Christie observed him,... the girls were watching a movie in the living room.
"I'll get there, Christie, I just need time..., you know...".
"You don't need time, grab your phone and call her, don't bottle up your feelings, it's not healthy...".
He rested his hands on edge of the sink and sighed.
"I am dying to do that, but it's not simple... Every day I feel like I am drowning...".
"Call her, silly...", Christie encouraged him as rubbing his back.
"I'm a coward. I'm afraid she will reject me...".
"Maybe, she will surprise you... saying she likes you as much as you do...".
"Daddy, I'm tired. Can we go home?"
"Yeah, Christie thank you again..., next time I cook for you...".
"Think about what I told you, okay?"
"Okay," he kissed her and they left.
...
Gabby's apartment...
"Antonio, this apple pie is delicious, please thank Laura for me...".
"Don't worry...".
"My money, any chance there is anything left?" Gabby asked.
"About that, sorry, we are not gonna have your money back, Bryan spent all..".
Putting the fork down, Gabby sighed.
"I might say I wasn't hoping to have it back, still hurts knowing for sure it is true, he took my savings, it's all gone...".
Gabby got up from the chair, put her plate and fork in the sink.
"You need money? If you need I can get you some...".
Gabby turned around, folding her arms over her chest.
"No, thank you... I own you enough", she pointed around, "... I'll give you back what you spent here...".
"We've talked about it already... you are my sis, I'd do anything for you...".
"No, we haven't... anyway, I appreciated what have you done for me, always...".
Antonio didn't like to pry on Gabby's romantic life, however...
"Have you called him?".
"No, I haven't...," she said and walked out of the chicken.
"What are you waiting for?".
"...I am a coward, that's the truth...", she blurted out.
"That's not you, you are one of the bravest people I've known, Gabriela Dawson".
"And you're the best brother anyone could have asked for, Antonio Dawson".
They laughed.
...
Matt's house...
On the way home, Anna fell asleep in the back seat of the car. Then Matt carried her to the bedroom, next he took off her shoes. He helped her to get in the bed...
"Daddy...", she whined.
"Go back to sleep, dad will just put on your pajamas, okay?"
"When can I see Pouch again? It's been a long time since I had seen him at Firehouse 51...", she opened her eyes.
"You can't miss school, Anna," he put the blanket over her body.
"Please, I want to see her daddy, please...", she asked making a cute face, and Matt couldn't deny her wish.
"How about my next shift? We got up early and go to 51, then I take you to school, what do you think?".
"Thank you!" she kissed him before going to sleep.
...
Gabby discovered near her apartment a cafeteria, where they had the best croissant in town, she thought. Each shift her first stop is there... it's a moment for herself, she needed that to go on with her 24h shift.
Working at Firehouse 51 had its advantage, it was close to her apartment, which wouldn't affect her routine.
When Gabby got there, she saw a child playing with a dog, they were next to truck 81. Gabby was already in her uniform, afraid of getting later or get an early call... Some guys were sat down around a table, chatting away...
Gabby stopped when the girl talked to her...
"Hi...".
"Hi, sweet, good morning...".
"Are you the new paramedic?"
"I am," Gabby said smiling.
"My name is Anna".
Gabby felt she had seen her before, but she couldn't recall where. It was weird, her name was the same as Matt's daughter.
"Nice to meet you, Anna, my name is Gabriela Dawson", Anna recognized her.
"I suppose you are looking for Chief Boden...".
"Yes, could you take me to him?" Gabby thought she was polite and cute
"Yeah.. of course. Let's go, Pouch...".
Gabby was taken aback when Anna grabbed her hand. They passed by Capp, Tony, and Clark. Gabby said good morning to them.
"Do you work here too?" Gabby asked.
Anna laughed.
"No, Mrs. Dawson... my dad is lieutenant here. I asked him to bring me today, I miss Pouch..." the following beside them.
"Ah... I love dogs too...".
"This is the Chief Boden Office... Good morning, Connie".
"Good morning, Anna!"
"I gotta go, I'm still going to school".
Gabby knelt to look at Anna. She had blue eyes like Matt, Gabby thought but pushed the thought away.
"Thank you and have a good day at school...".
"Thank you, you too, I mean... you at work...", they smiled at each other.
"Anna, where were you? Let's go, we'll be late...".
"I led the new paramedic to the Chief Boden Office".
"All right, come on!".
Twenty minutes later...
"Casey, Chief is in the meeting room," Cruz let him know. Cruz met him on the apparatus floor... Matt walked into the room, he leaned his back against the wall as looking at Boden.
"Good morning, everyone... Before giving my usual speech...", everybody snickered. "Please...", he stared at Gabby, "... Let me introduce you all...", he signed to Gabby. She turned to face her co-workers... Matt's eyes widened.
"... Gabriela Dawson, the new paramedic of the ambo 61...".
Gabby smiled, until she met Matt's eyes, her smile dropped.