AnnaBeth's weekend had been completely hectic moving into her new apartment. Being back at work was almost a relief. She wasn't sure how she would have managed without everyone pitching in to help her.
"Good Morning Peter Mills" She said falling in step with her partner as they walked into work.
"Are you in a good mood every morning?" He asked with a smile.
"Most days" She shrugged "There's nothing to complain about"
"Are you all set up in your new place?" He asked holding the door open for her.
"I am" She replied "Thank you so much again for helping"
"I've got your back any time partner" He said fist bumping her.
Gabby was reading the paper sat with Matt in the corner, so she went to join them. Gabby had come over for drinks the night before. It was kind of like the girl's nights she used to have with Zoe Hart. Cocktails, gossiping and watching trash tv.
"What are you doing this weekend?" She asked.
"I have no idea" Gabby replied "Why?"
"I was thinking about having a dinner party, kind of a thank you for all the help you all gave me this weekend, and before that" She said.
"A dinner party?" Gabby said with a smile "That might be a little too sophisticated for these guys"
"Hey" Matt exclaimed "We'd love to come"
"I'll check with Herrmann that I can get the night off, were you thinking Saturday?" Gabby said.
"Saturday" She confirmed as Kelly walked in with a huge smile on his face.
She couldn't remember ever seeing him look that happy. A weekend away was obviously what he had needed.
"He's in an oddly good mood" Gabby said as he went to go and talk to Boden.
"That's a good thing though right" She said with a smile.
She still remembered that first night at Molly's seeing him so hurt. It was no secret he was out parting to excess. He had his good moments, but it was clear to see he had really been struggling which was understandable after losing his friend. If a weekend away in Vegas made him happy then it could only be a good thing.
She kept herself busy checking Bluebell's website and Dash's blog for the latest from back home. It turned out Carter and Enrique had both backed out of the dual at the renaissance fair and it had been Meatball and Lavon who had stepped up to fight for Lemon. There was a picture of Lemon and Lavon dancing at the Rammer Jammer as King and Queen of the fair.
"Are you ok?" Gabby asked seeing her expression change.
AnnaBeth just handed her the phone so she could see for herself. She knew if anything was going on between Lemon and Lavon that Lemon would have said something, but it still hurt to see.
Before Gabby could say anything, Kelly had come back through from Boden's office and said he had an announcement to make.
"Her name is Britney, she's an interior designer from Tallahassee , we met at the craps table and we got married" He said smiling from ear to ear "She's great, you're all gonna love her"
"Yeah ok Severide where's the punch line?" Herrmann asked as everyone else sat silent with their mouths hanging open.
"I got married" He repeated "In Vegas, her name is Britney"
AnnaBeth exchanged looks with Gabby.
"Oh, sweet lord" She said quietly as Herrmann congratulated him starting off a round of well wishes.
Gabby waited until Kelly had gone to the locker room to change before turning to AnnaBeth.
"Just think, he asked you to go to Vegas, that could have been you" Gabby laughed.
AnnaBeth just laughed nervously. She knew she had a bit of a thing for Kelly, but she was surprisingly disappointed to hear that he had gotten married. Not just for the fact that it was completely insane but more for the fact that she actually liked him.
"Hey" Gabby said trying to cheer her up "You know that met at the Craps table from Florida and her name equals one thing"
"Stripper" they said together
"What have you got against Florida?" Matt asked
"A long-standing college football rivalry" She replied.
"You don't think it's strange?" Gabby asked.
"I think he looks happy" Matt said.
"You're right" AnnaBeth sighed as the bells went off "That is the main thing"
The first call of the day was intense. A woman was trapped upside down in the car in a hole with the gas leaking. For the first time in a long time AnnaBeth didn't bump into Jonah at the hospital when they dropped the patient off. As much as she rolled her eyes at his flirting it was nice to have a piece of home around.
Peter decided to get coffee on the way back to the firehouse. He paid for them both. He really was a gentleman.
"Thank you" She said taking her coffee "This weekend moving and work it's leaving me so tired"
"You don't let on" He said "It's like bubbly is your permanent setting"
"I'm not entirely sure that's a compliment" She laughed.
"It is" He reassured her "It's good getting to spend the day with you"
"Well you're not so bad yourself partner" She said bumping his arm with hers as they walked side by side back to the ambulance.
"So, you looked surprised by Severides news this morning" He said.
"I think everyone looked surprised" She pointed out "It's crazy"
"You kind of like him" He shrugged.
"I do not" She protested.
She narrowed her eyes at him as he smirked clearly not believing her at all. It didn't really matter either way. He had come back from a weekend away as a married man. She was saved from discussing it further as a call came through for a two-person car accident.
Gabby burst out laughing when they eventually made it back to the firehouse. The man at the scene had ingested crack and then proceeded to throw up all over her.
"Woah" Gabby laughed "What happened to you?"
"Don't you just miss this so much?" She asked sarcastically taking off her jacket in disgust.
"Oh absolutely" Gabby nodded.
They were interrupted by a tall beautiful woman carrying a large box.
"Hi" The woman said "I'm looking for Kelly Severide, I'm Britney"
"Oh, his wife" Gabby said shaking her hand "I'm Gabriella Dawson, this is AnnaBeth Nass"
"You're his roommate" Britney said recognizing the name "He's been saying you're shaping up to be a great firefighter"
"Really?" Gabby asked in disbelief.
Britney turned to try and shake AnnaBeth's hand.
"Oh, I would shake your hand, but I had an incident with a patient" She said awkwardly holding her hands up "I really should shower and change, but welcome, and congratulations"
AnnaBeth walked through to the locker room and got out her spare uniform so she could shower and change. She left her hair pinned back but down. She knew Newhouse was raising money for his daughter to go to an academic decathlon final her team had made. She was a great kid and he was an amazing dad even if the number of cuts and bruises he was turning up to work with was becoming concerning. It made her worry about Peter working with him.
"Did you know Matt said that Britney could move in with us?" Gabby fumed sitting on the edge of the bed AnnaBeth was sitting on.
"Is he insane?" She asked in disbelief.
"Thank you" Gabby said "All he said was do I think he married a serial killer"
"Well that is a possibility" She said "I watch a lot of CBS; it's why I would never go into a patient's house alone"
"I don't think she's a serial killer, but we don't know anything about her" Gabby said with a smile.
"I'm sure it will be fine" She said "She seemed nice"
"How do you feel about it?" Gabby asked
"How can I feel about it" She shrugged "It's just a silly crush that's all"
"We're having drinks at Molly's on Friday to celebrate" Gabby told her "Are you going to come?"
"Absolutely" She said "I wouldn't miss it"
"There's a pool going for how long you think it'll last; you should see Otis if you want in on it" Gabby told her.
"I'm not betting on someone's marriage" She said, "Has everyone else done that?"
"Yep" Gabby replied.
"Unbelievable" She said shaking her head.
AnnaBeth spent the rest of the week giving Cruz cooking lessons like she had promised and planning her dinner party. She decided to extend the invitation to Britney and Kelly to make Britney feel welcome and she invited Peter to keep the numbers even.
By the time Friday rolled around she was glad she had a few days off to recover from the week. She had put on her teal green sheath dress and curled her hair loosely.
Everyone was already at Molly's when she got there. Gabby had saved her a seat by the bar and handed her a pink cocktail. She wasn't entirely sure what it was, but she accepted it gratefully.
"AnnaBeth" Jonah said standing next to her at the bar "You're looking lovely as ever"
"Where's your date?" She asked giving him a hug hello.
"No date tonight" He replied as he ordered a drink.
"You remember my friend Gabby?" She said reintroducing them.
"How could I forget" Jonah said shaking her hand before turning back to AnnaBeth "What about you, no date on a Friday night?"
"I'm not sure I'm ready to like someone just yet" She replied.
"You know the best way to get over someone is to…" He started.
"Sleep with a hot doctor?" She asked raising an eyebrow "It didn't work on Zoe and it's not going to work on me"
"Well you know where to find me if you change your mind" He said as he walked over to another doctor he knew.
AnnaBeth rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink.
"He's kinda hot" Gabby said looking around.
AnnaBeth knew she was right. Jonah was good looking, tall and blonde with amazing eyes and they used to flirt back in their high school days but there was nothing else there.
"Trust me that is never going to happen" She said.
"Ok well let me set you up" Gabby said "No one from work I promise, until you get back out there, you're not going to move on and really start your life here"
"You're right" She agreed clinking her glass to Gabby's "But it has to be a double date, I told you I have that whole serial killer thing"
"Who are you going on a date with?" Kelly asked holding hands with Britney.
"We don't know yet" Gabby said "I'm going to find the perfect guy"
"Oh" AnnaBeth said "Before I forget, Britney is there anything you're allergic to, nothing kills a dinner party like the guest of honor going into anaphylactic shock"
"Guest of honor?" Kelly asked
"Of course" She replied turning to Britney "I know what it's like to start over in a new place, I want you to feel welcome and it's the perfect chance for us to get to know you"
"No allergies or dietary requirements" Britney confirmed "I'll eat just about anything"
"You're not going to ask the rest of us?" Kelly asked with a smirk.
"You've all survived Cruz's cooking" She replied.
"Thanks AB" He said "That's really nice of you to invite us"
She took a deep breath as they walked away. Gabby raised an eyebrow as she looked at her.
"Calm down AB" Gabby told her "You don't have to try so hard to be her friend"
"Of course, I do" She said "She's here all alone and she only knows Kelly and marriage is a huge deal, Kelly is our friend"
"As long as it's not awkward for you" Gabby shrugged.
"So, who were you thinking about for that whole date thing?" She asked changing the subject.
"So, it's a no to firefighters at 51 and to your sexy surgeon" Gabby said tapping her chin as she scanned the room "How do you feel about cops?"