CHAPTER 31
"Matt came here…" Gabby told Shay on the phone.
"Did you tell him about the baby?" Shay drank her beer...
"I didn't, though he asked me to stay... He loves me and wants me here with him and Anna…" Gabby sighed as standing against the counter.
"You don't sound excited, Gabby... you decided to take the scholarship?"
"No..., I- just-,'' Shay interrupted her.
"What is it, Gabby?" Gabby walked to the living room and sat down on the couch.
"I feel a little insecurity, one moment Casey tells me to go, now to stay... Do you think someone told him I'm pregnant?!" Shay cut her off.
"Hey, hey, don't overthink it. If he knew it, you would know. Casey is not the type of guy who plays games…"
"Look, If we get back together, then I tell him about that baby… He would think I agree to go back to him because the baby, not him-"
"Gabby, stop, stop, you are stressing yourself out," Shay abandoned her beer on the counter and walked up to her bedroom. "Casey loves you and you love him, now or later you two would be together…"
"Do you think so?" Gabby asked shyly.
"Of course… you two are meant to be, remember."
"Thanks, Shay, you're the best."
"I know" they laughed... "Wait, please, tell me you packed your things..."
"Kind of, actually, I'm gonna finish it tomorrow..."
"Gabby, you're crazy? Our flight is early tomorrow morning!"
"Girl, don't worry. I'll be at the airport earlier than you."
"Alright, I love you mama… and I love our peanut butter."
"We are already calling him that?"
Shay chuckled.
They talked for a few minutes and ended the call.
/
Casey had a construction job today and Severide was helping him out...
"I think the girls landed in Florida already...," Severide said looking at his watch.
"Yep…", Matt responded while going through his toolbox.
"How was at Gabby's apartment?" Severide asked as opened one of the front windows.
"This time I asked her to stay with me and Anna…" Casey gave him a pensive look.
"What she said? She said yes?"
"She will think about it..., I couldn't require more than that... I hurt her feelings..., I really blew up things with her...," he stated upset.
"Gabby will give you a new chance, don't give up on hope...," Severide smiled at him.
"Thanks. For sure I'm not giving up on her, or us..."
...
A few hours later, at's Matt house...
Matt called Gabby, they had agreed that Anna could call her when the girl missed her...
"Hey, baby girl. For one minute, I thought you had forgotten our daily call..." Gabby was sitting on the bed.
"Never... I really miss you, mom," Anna voiced sadly.
Matt was around while Gabby and Anna were on the phone, he was waiting for a chance to talk to Gabby as well.
"Oh, I may ask your dad to take you to the park when I am back home. What do you think? Would you like that?"
Shay was walking out of the bathroom when she saw Gabby wiping a few tears...
"Okay. Love you…"
"I love you more...," Gabby replied.
"Dad wants to talk to you…" Anna declared... Gabby got excited hearing that...
"Okay, princess…"
"Gabby, hey…"
"Hey… How have you been?"
"I'm good… I miss you" he said a bit apprehensive, ".. as much as Anna..."
"I miss you too…"
"It makes me feel hopeful, besides it's good to hear your voice…" he smiled.
"It's nice to know you miss me...," she said putting a hand on her belly.
"Every second since the last we saw each other in person..., Gabby, I don't know what will be your decision, but I only can say that I love you no matter what..."
They stayed a few seconds in silence.
"Dad, can I have some money to buy an ice cream?" he nodded and gave Anna some money.
"Where are you, guys?"
"We are at the park, where I saw you for the first time…"
"I love that place…"
"We can plan a picnic here, if… you know…," he shuttered for a second.
"A picnic with you and Anna seems a great plan for me…" she smiled.
"Do you know what I've remembered?"
"What?" she asked curiously.
"When we had a picnic at my yard… we had wine, bread, and cheese… very fancy."
"Yes, it was and I recall how I got a little tipsy…," she said embarrassed.
"Yeah, it was a great night though..."
"Me singing to your neighbors at midnight…," Gabby giggled.
"They didn't appreciate your talent like me, it's a shame...," Matt laughed loud.
"That night is memorable."
"For many reasons, right?" he gasped. They made love in his backyard under a blanket that night.
"I…know…" she gasped too. "We… made love…"
"Yeah… It was amazing…"
"It was…" they blushed.
"I… I need to go. Shay is waiting for me to have dinner…" She blushed as Shay gave her a knowing look.
"Okay... It was great talking to you."
"Please give Anna a kiss... Bye, Matt."
"I'll. Bye, Gabby."
/
"What time does their plane take off?" Casey asked Severide while they were in his office.
"Shay said something around 9 a.m. What are you thinking?" Severide sipped his coffee.
"Maybe surprise Gabby at the airport?" Casey said putting his last report aside. "You'd be great seeing her, I mean, I can't wait to see her..."
"Do you want me to let Shay know beforehand?" Severide got up from Matt's bed.
"Not yet... I haven't made my mind... Perhaps, Gabby wouldn't like to see me there, I'm not sure where we stand right now..."
"It's okay… I have your back…"
...
A few hours later at the airport
"Shay, where are you?" Severide questioned her on the phone.
"Sorry, I didn't pick up your call sooner... Our flight landed earlier…"
"Where are you?"
"Oh, I-I'm at restroom with Gabby. She got sick…"
"Oh, I got it."
"Give me a minute and we'll be out...," Shay explained as waited Gabby washed her mouth.
"Okay, take your time."
"What happened?" Casey asked worriedly.
"Gabby got sick."
"They are at the hospital?" Casey queried.
"Not, they're at the airport restroom."
"Gabby has been feeling sick for weeks now, from I can see that is not good, Sev."
"Calm down, she'll be fine."
"I hope so…," he ran a hand through his hair. Shay texted Severide, asking him to meet them in the cafeteria...
"Oh, shit…" Shay said as soon as she saw Casey standing next to Severide.
Gabby was surprised too. "Hey, guys…"
"Gabby, you don't look good" Casey stated worriedly.
"I'm fine. I just need to rest…"
"You are far from fine, Gabby. You are pale… Let's go to the hospital…," reaching for her luggage and hand.
"Casey, no. I'm going home…," she said firmly.
"Okay, I'm taking you and that's not up to discussion...," he said sternly. Gabby looked at Shay.
"Shay, I'm going with him… Thanks for everything…" Gabby hugged each other.
"Call me if you need anything…"
"Okay…" Gabby said bye to Severide and left the airport with Matt. All the way to her apartment, Gabby stayed quiet, eyes closed... When they get there, Gabby gave to Casey her key... When they got inside she went straight to her bedroom...
"Don't be angry…," Matt spoke as walked into the bedroom. "I'm worried about you... You're sick for weeks… Something is wrong."
"Could you do me a favor?" She was sitting on her bed.
"Always..."
"Open the first drawer…" she pointed it out. "There is something for you there…"
"What is it?" Casey smiled softly.
"Just do what I asked you..."
"Okay, here we go..." he pulled the drawer open. "There is a box here, it's for me?" He took it and turned around to look at her.
"Come here...," Gabby patted the bed. Matt sat down next to her. "Open it."
Casey looked inside the box and wondered what that meant for him... After a few seconds, he realized what was the message, his eyes widened, then he stared at her...