CHAPTER 16
Gabby's parents had left two weeks ago, they were happily back in the Dominican Republic. The dinner at Gabby's was a success, they all had an amazing night together as a family, Maria couldn't be more proud of her kids.
Gabby was back to her daily schedule, but not her heart. In some way, she missed her parents as much as Matt's long stares, warm smiles... Since they had argued, Matt only speaks to her when it is necessary, like when they are in a rescue, or politely say a good morning starting the shift... His cold attitude has been consuming her even more after what Antonio revealed to her.
Gabby knew pushing him away was a mistake, now she would have to live with it.
"Anna, remember, you are not allowed to run inside Firehouse, you can get hurt or get on our way to the apparatus floor, so you must be careful... Do you hear me?" Mat said while they were still in his car at the parking lot.
"Yes, daddy. Can we go now?"
"Of course...", he smiled as looking at her through the mirror rearview mirror.
Anna was very excited to spend the day at 51. The school was off today, then she begged Casey to take her to work. His First stop was at his office to keep Anna's backpack there.
"Let's grab something to eat...", they walked to the kitchen area.
"I'm starving...", Anna told him as grabbing ahold of his hand.
He poured some juice for her, two slides of loaf bread, putting an apple on her plate as well.
"I'll go to the locker room to get changed...", Matt kissed her head.
Seconds later, Gabby and Shay walked into the common room, "Hi, Gabby, Shay, good morning".
"Wow, look who we have here, good morning, young lady", Gabby greeted her as Shay kissed her head. They sat down at the end of the table.
"...Anna.., we will team up on Saturday for Annual Barbecue...", Shay previewed since they had done that last time.
"Hmmm, we might not go, dad is not sure...".
"Oh, that's too bad, we are better than anyone there...".
"We are... we won two medals...", Anna spoke proudly. "... Maybe, you talk to my dad and he changes his mind, you know...".
"You bet, I will...", Shay replied.
The conversation between Shay and Anna had Gabby wondering if Matt might not going because of her. She could talk to him and assure him she wouldn't be able to go to the event. Gabby planned to bring along Eva and Diego, but it wouldn't be this time. Anna shouldn't be deprived of being there.
10 a.m. the bells sounded off, it was the first call of the day... 50 minutes later Severide, Casey, Shay, and Gabby arrived at Lakeshore with the victim who had a piece of metal stuck in his leg, which demanded to be removed at the hospital.
Severide and Casey helped nurses and doctors taking out the metal piece by piece using their equipment.
While elsewhere Gabby and Shay were filling out a few papers... Minutes later...
"I can't believe it", Shay shook her head disappointed.
"What is it?" Gabby asked as checking the papers.
"Never mind", Shay sighed.
"What had you upset?" Gabby looked up and followed Shay's gaze.
"Hallie...".
Hallie and Matt were talking happily, smiling from ear to ear.
"They dated a few years ago, she traveled to Africa, what led them to break up...".
"Sorry, I didn't want to upset you-", Gabby interjected.
"It's okay, Shay. He's single, Matt can date whoever he wants. I'm going to the ambulance...".
Once they arrived at 51, Casey went to his office to fill his report as Gabby went to the bathroom, then she went back to the ambulance because she had forgotten her phone there.
Anna was next to the ambo playing with the dog.
"She loves you...", Gabby said to Anna, as Pouch licked Ann's face
"... I wanna have a dog one day...", Anna rubbed Pouch's head.
"... Your dad said you wanted a hamster...", Gabby knelt close to them.
"... I might get one for my birthday...".
"That's awesome...", Gabby petted the dog.
In seconds, Pouch licked Gabby's hand.
"She loves you too...", Anna said smiling.
"I think so. How about giving her something to eat?"
Anna nodded.
"Come on, Pouch!" They walked toward the common room.
Matt was passing by the window, when he saw Gabby and Anna talking and making their way back inside, so he went back to his office.
They had two more calls that day, after dinner Anna went to her father's office to get some sleep.
Matt was in the laundry room to wash a few t-shirts when Gabby showed up to do the same thing.
He saw her holding up a basket, "You can go ahead, I'll be back later...".
"No, it's alright... you get here first...", she smiled at him.
Matt folded his jacket...
"Can I tell you something?" she asked.
"Yes...", he opened the lid of the washing machine.
"I'm not going to the Barbecue on Saturday, so you don't have to worry...".
Matt was confused., "Okay, but why are you saying this?"
"Anna..., she said you two might not going, I figured that's because of me-".
"It's what do you think?" he folded his arms.
"Well, I know you're upset with me and-", he cut her off.
"Yeah...", he licked his lower lip, "... I read wrong between the lines, sorry, I-I feel I forced you to feel something that is not there for you-".
Gabby frowned at him as his words hit hard on her.
Matt raised his eyebrows as unfolded his arms, "... the barbecue, maybe we won't be there, because I have an old client who needs my help on Saturday, that's the reason...".
"Oh... I-I got it wrong,...".
They locked eyes... Matt's intense gaze disturbed her...
"Ah, okay. I'm glad we cleared that up", she said mustering a smile, and left him behind.
...
Chicago Fire Annual Barbecue...
"What would you like to eat?" Gabby asked Diego and Eva.
"Hamburger, please...", Diego responded.
"I want a soda, please...".
"Okay, let's head down there...", Gabby pointed at the barbecue area.
Almost every one of Firehouse 51 had arrived, but Boden and his wife, Donna, Matt, and Anna.
Gabby served her niece and nephew, then joined Shay at her table. 30 minutes later, Gabby saw Casey and Anna coming, and Hallie was a few inches behind them.
Gabby was ready to put up her best smile to get through the day. Luckily, Casey, Anna, and Hallie sat down with Herrmann's family. Sometime later, the coordinate of the event gathered the kids for some activities.
Gabby followed Diego and Eva to the reserved area for them.
"Gabby...".
Gabby turned back and saw Matt and Anna.
"... You made it, I'm happy to see you, Anna", Gabby ran a hand through her hair.
"... My client canceled the whole thing...", Matt explained.
"Lucky you...", Gabby said smiling at him and then Anna.
"Yeah...", he smiled warmly at her.
Gabby, Diego, Eva, Anna, and Casey formed a team for the soccer competition. They had a lot of fun together... They got second place... Kids were happy, so Matt and Gabby either.
Then there was a sack race. Matt and Gabby decided to watch as the children were playing.
"Do want to sit down?" he asked.
"Sure, let's sit by that tree...", she pointed it.
"..., sorry for asking, but what happened to Anna's mother?"
"She died of cancer when Anna was four..." he looked at Anna.
"I'm sorry... Anna must miss her...".
"Yeah, it was hard at first, even she being so little...".
"I can't imagine all you two went through...".Locking eyes, "Matt, I-", Hallie interrupted Gabby.
"Excuse me, Matt, can you come here?"
Matt glanced at Hallie, "... One moment", looking back to Gabby, "Do you mind look over Anna for a few minutes?"
"Not at all..." Gabby said.
Matt left with Hallie...
"What's up?" Shay asked as she sat next to Gabby.
"I don't even know where to begin... I feel lost... I feel that I had a good guy for a second, then I blew it...".
"I'll give my sincere opinion, you anticipate the problems in a relationship with Matt, just relax and enjoy it, together you two are gonna sort out whatever is the issue...", Shay advised her.
"... That's my problem, I have to analyze every detail as a way of protecting my heart, you know-", Anna called for Shay.
Shay waved at her...
"...Go, we'll talk later...", Gabby conceded and decided to join them playing tug-of-war.
After 15 minutes, Matt returned...
"Who won?" Matt approached them as they were catching their breath, after a racing game.
"Anna won once and Diego as well...", Shay announced after gulping her water.
"Why isn't your friend here with us?" Gabby asked suspiciously.
"Hallie? She had to leave, will be back later...".
"Kids, come on... the second round of hamburger is on me...", Shay wiped her forehead with the back of her hand as Anna, Diego, and Eva followed her, leaving Matt and Gabby alone.
"Certainly she misses you after you two living for so long apart...", Gabby can't help herself, she was curious.
"Yeah, I think so... she misses everyone, her hometown...", Matt admitted.
"... I bet she misses you the most, with her back here you two can start over..., everybody is expecting that-", Matt cut in.
"Wait, wait... You are not implying Hallie and I are...", he paused running her eyes over her face.
"... Dating..." Gabby crossed her arms over her chest, "... it's what's going on here, it's clear for me you-".
"She's married", he declared amused.
Gabby opened her mouth, but nothing came out, she felt embarrassed.
"I-I thought, you-you two were laughing at Lakeshore...", Gabby looked at her feet.
Grinning at her, "Oh, so you assumed we were back together?! Right now she is at Lakeshore, he is a doctor as well, I invited both to come here..".
Looking up, "... Sorry, Matt...".
"Hallie would never stand a chance, because...", he got closer to Gabby, as looking into her eyes, he put a strand of hair behind her ear, "... there is this girl, brown hair, big eyes, a smile that lit up all world, beautiful, she has been the only one on my mind...".
Gabby was flushed, then Matt leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek. "See you later...".
They all enjoyed the event until the end...
Gabby said her goodbyes and leaf with Eva and Diego, they were gonna meet Antonio at the entrance...
Matt saw them there when he was passing by in his car, he stopped, "You need a ride?"
Gabby had her phone in her hand, "...My brother was supposed to come to pick us up, now he is stuck in the bakery,-".
"I'll take you home, come on...".
"We don't want to bother you...".
"You won't... please come in...", Matt insisted, "... Anna would like to chat with her new friends...".
Gabby smiled, "... okay, thank you...".
A few minutes later, "... We're gonna eat pizza. .. Would you like to join us?"
Eva and Diego shared excited glances at each other and nodded their heads, "... please, auntie...".
"I don't know… I'll have to ask Laura, first...", Gabby looked back at them.
"Call her, then...", Matt pushed his luck.
... 35 minutes later... while the kids were playing in the game arena of the restaurant, Matt and Gabby were alone at their table.
"I'm curious... how did you know about Hallie and me?"
Gabby held her laugh, "...Shay, she-".
"Okay, I get it...", they snickered.
"Why didn't tell me you have seen me at the park, later at the accident scene?"
Matt was surprised with her question, "I thought I would scare you... you'd assume I was stalking you..".
"Matt... you have been on mind, and I'd never think that of you as a stalker... I like you, and not just as a friend...".
His heart was beating so fast as they locked eyes.
Yawning, ".. auntie, can we go? I'm tired...", Diego told her.
Gabby looked at his nephew, "Sure, we are going home...".
They paid the bill and walked out of the place... On their way to Antonio, the children had fallen asleep... Matt took the chance to steal two or three kisses from Gabby... When they arrived at their destiny, Matt helped Gabby carry them to their parents...
When Gabby got back in the car, "... Last minute plan, I called my sister if she could have Anna tonight...", Matt waited for Gabby's assent.
"I'll be waiting for you..." Gabby stated.
Both leaned forward and kissed on the lips.