CHAPTER 12
Gabby smiled, until she met Matt's eyes, her smile dropped. They were both astonished seeing each other.
Severide who was beside him, whispered: "She did tell you?"
Matt looked annoyed, "... by your face, the answer is no...".
Shay turned her head back slightly to watch them for a moment...
"I'm glad to be here, Chief... Thank you..." Gabby avoiding to look in Matt's direction.
"Okay, now listen everyone...", Chief Boden continued.
Sat down, Gabby's heart was beating fast, Matt as well.
Chief Boden cut short the meeting since he had a few calls to make, then one by one left the room.
"Dawson, let's stock the ambulance...," Shay was anxious to know Gabby's story.
"Okay...", Gabby nodded.
After the meeting, Casey went straight to his office and Severide followed him.
"Dude, can I say something?" Casey stayed quiet, he wasn't in a good mood.
"You were right, none of this is a coincidence... I'd say destiny is trying to connect you two".
"I can't think straight, she is here, Severide, and at the same time is not, you understand? Forget it, I am going crazy...", Casey said as pacing in his small office.
"Man... you like her, hun?" Severide laughed at him.
"What I do? I go and talk to her or keep my distance? I bet she wants me away from her...".
"Can you just- stop, you are delirious, okay? Just wait, it's her first day, give it some time,... Dawson knows you two need to sort out whatever is happening between you, I mean, you work together now...".
"Yeah, you are right... I'll wait... thanks...".
"How long have you been a paramedic?" Shay asked as she wrote down some things as Gabby was organizing the material.
"Six years... six crazy years... I'd say...".
"Me either, I've worked at Firehouse since the beginning...".
"I started at Firehouse 75, before coming here I was 87... they are great there, I enjoyed my time there...".
"We are like a family here... If you need something or someone to talk to count on me, Dawson...", Shay squeezed her shoulder.
"Thanks... please call me Gabby...", she said with a small smile.
And the first call of the day came for the truck, squad, and ambulance. Ten minutes later the bells went off... the first call of the day... a building on fire, a family was trapped in their apartment. It was their lucky day, Firehouse 51 got in time and nobody got hurt.
Around 10 p.m. the firehouse was quiet, they had dinner, then they went to rest in the dormitory, only Gabby was watching TV.
"Not tired yet?", Casey tried to make small talk, he was standing next to the couch, where Gabby was sat down...
"I can't sleep, you know... all the adrenaline after the last call...".
"It'd alright if I watch TV with you?" Matt asked shyly.
Gabby looked him up, "...hmm, yeah... make yourself at home", she mustered a smile.
"What are you watching?" he said gazing at her.
"The news, what would you like to watch?".
"Whatever you want...", he peeked at her.
Gabby felt tense while he was so close to her, opposite to her, Matt was relaxed, it was his way to make her feel comfortable around him...
"I-I wanted to say it before, sorry, for not be honest with you, I didn't mean to hurt you...".
"I got it... My brother explained the whole surprise...".
"Did you like what I've done at your apartment?"
"Yes, you did a great job. Thank you...".
"How have been Antonio, Laura, and the kids?"
"They are great... I met your daughter this morning, at least I assume it's her, Anna."
"Yes, that's her... she wanted to see Pouch, she loves that dog...".
"She's beautiful and smart..., you raised her right... Casey...".
"Thank you, it means a lot...".
Silence fell upon them...
"I miss you, we've met a few times, but I can't let go of this connection I feel towards you...".
Gabby kept quiet...
"I should have called you... or being there for you... Do you think we can start over? Please, forgive me...", he said looking at her.
"Matt, we may start over, but-".
"What?"
"We work together now, it's not like before, both living their lives without the work in the middle of all this... I don't see it working out, there is a huge chance for us to get hurt again...".
"Why not give it a try, it might work at the end, if it depends on me, I will give 100% of me...".
"I dated a co-worker in the past, believe me, I've regretted it... I've had my amount of heartbreaks, sorry, I can't date you...".
Hearing her was painful, because he had one of the people that hurt her, broke her heart. Matt couldn't argue with her, only respect her wish.
Gabby stood up, and looked at him, "I think you are a great lieutenant, father, and I believe you will find what you are looking for, an amazing woman...".
Matt and Gabby had tears in their eyes.
"Good night...", Gabby walked away...
"Gabby...".
...
Mall...
"Gabby, you are so beautiful! This dress fits you perfectly...".
"Do you think? I am not sure... it's expensive as well...".
"I think you should buy...".
"Hmm, next time, maybe, I am going to take the shorts and blue shirt...".
"Are you hungry? Let's eat something... before we go home?" Laura suggested.
"Yes, I'm starving...".
"You will be able to... you know...", Gabby asked as they were walking out of the store.
"Sure, don't worry, we'll be there with you...".
"We might take Diego and Eva with us, it's okay with you?".
"You think it's a good idea?"
"They want to go Gabby, you know how much they loved him."
Gabby nodded.
"Did you talk to your parents?".
"I called them, they know what I am doing, there is no need to worry, I'll be fine...".
Laura held her hand and squeezed it.
...
Firehouse 51...
A week later Gabby wasn't convinced that she could think of Matt only as her lieutenant. Their last call showed her that her feelings for him weren't going to vanish just because she wanted to.
Flashback
Firehouse 51 was at the scene fighting fire for 40 minutes in a warehouse,... Casey, Mouch, and Hermann ended up trapped by flames, their team was working to get them out.
"Severide, report" Chief Boden said.
"We're almost there, Chief...".
Gabby was worried, Shay could watch all over her face.
"They'll be all right," Shay said trying to reassure her.
Gabby didn't reply, "... yeah... they will...".
"We're leaving, Chief".
Gabby had to see for herself, to make sure he was okay. Mouch and Hermann were the first to walk out of the warehouse,... they were coughing because they had inhaled smoke. While Matt has leaned on Severide.
Gabby ran to them, "What happened?".
"I think he was unconscious for a few minutes...".
"I bumped my head on something," Matt revealed.
"Bring him here...", Shay demanded.
They checked him in the back of the ambo, the paramedics thought was better to take him to Lakeshore, but Matt didn't want to, Boden ordered him to go. Gabby was with him in the back of the ambo while the others went back to Firehouse 51.
Matt stared at her, she rubbed his arm, "You'll be fine" she said softly before patching him up, he had a small cut on his forehead, "... next time, don't give me a heart attack... I was worried about you...".
Matt licked his lower lip, "... of course...", he smiled warmly at her.
End of flashback
...
"Mills, it's delicious!".
"Thank you, Gabby!" she took another bite to the cupcake he had done.
"If you want I can write the recipe to you...".
"I want it, my nephews are gonna love it...".
Casey sat at the table watching Gabby and Mills talking... He had no right to be jealous, but he was.
Shay interrupted them, "What are you doing on Saturday?" Shay asked Gabby. Mills eyed them for a moment and decided to take the trash out.
"Nothing, I guess...".
"Great, Severide and I moved into a new place, we will have a party."
"Shay, no...".
"I don't take no for an answer."
"Shay...".
"Look, this weird vibe between you and Matt, it can't last forever, you know...".
Gabby was going to protest, but Shay raised her hand to stop her.
"Casey, Sev, and I are best friends. Don't get me wrong, but I see a sexual tension paring over yours and Matt's head...".
"There is no, no, you are wrong, Shay,...", Gabby stuttered. "Come on...".
"Seriously, Gabby?"
"We are co-workers just that. Okay, I gotta go... to do the inventory, you forget it?!".
"Okay, I text you our address...".
...
Cemetery...
Gabby had arrived before her brother's family. She wanted to have a moment alone with him.
"Hey, sis..." Antonio kissed her head.
"Hey."
Laura, Eva, and Diego hugged her.
They took some flowers and put them together.
x
Ryan Dawson
Born 05/25/2014
Died 05/26/2014
Forever Loved
x
Antonio rubbed her back up and down...
"I would do anything to have my son in my arms," Gabby said.
"I know you would...".