AnnaBeth had been stood outside the firehouse for 15 minutes trying to get off the phone.
"Lemon Breeland you are going to make me late for work" She said "I really have to go"
"But I just don't see why you let Gabriela set you up on a date, but you wouldn't let me send you a list of Chicago's must eligible bachelors" Lemon said.
"If I let you just send the list will you stop talking about it?" She asked.
"Yes, I promise" Lemon told her.
"Ok" She sighed "And I promise to call you tomorrow so we can talk properly"
"Great" Lemon replied "I've already faxed it over to Connie and I'll call you tomorrow to run through it and we can set up a date"
"Lemon…"She started but Lemon had already hung up the phone.
She had no idea what research Lemon had managed to do into eligible bachelors in Chicago and she wasn't sure she wanted to know. She didn't want a Carter Covington or another Jake Nass. The stress of dealing with Lemon first thing in the morning was giving her a sweet tooth craving. She put away her bag and then went to raid the cabinets for cookies, but she couldn't find any.
"Bad morning?" Gabby asked as AnnaBeth ate a handful of chocolate chips.
"Lemon" She replied simply.
Gabby just nodded with a smirk. It was explanation enough for her.
"Can you please tell your friend to email you next time?" Connie asked handing her a stack of papers.
"There won't be a next time" She replied "Sorry Connie"
"That's ok" Connie told her.
"So weird" Gabby said pouring herself a cup of coffee "What is that?"
"Well Lemon was a little upset I let you set me up and not her, so she was sending me a list of Chicago's eligible bachelors" She replied.
"That's about 20 pages" Gabby said in disbelief as AnnaBeth flicked through the stack.
"Yes, it is" She sighed throwing it down on the side.
"Does that girl work for the CIA?" Gabby laughed "These are like full background checks, where they went to school, net worth, family…wow"
"Who knows" She laughed "It doesn't matter because I have no interest in being set up by Lemon Breeland, she can keep the Carter Covington's of the world to herself"
"But this one had a house in the Hamptons" Gabby smirked.
"Well maybe we can keep hold of it for a rainy day" She grinned "Besides Lemon is calling me for a full rundown tomorrow and if I haven't read it"
"I thought better of you AB" Peter teased taking a look at her list.
"We can get you your own list" She joked "Tell Lemon what you like, private jet, ski lodge in aspen?"
"I'm good with some homemade chili and a few beers" He said shaking his head.
"You can have a yacht and like a cold beer" Gabby shrugged flicking through the pile.
"I'm set for our double date thank you very much" She said.
"What have you got planned?" Peter asked.
"Something great" Gabby said quickly.
AnnaBeth raised an eyebrow and exchanged a knowing look with Peter.
"You haven't planned anything have you?" Peter asked
"Yes, I do, Tuesday night" Gabby said as AnnaBeth continued to stare her down "Ok so I have a day just not a plan, but there is still a few days"
"Why is it a double date?" Peter asked.
"It's a serial killer thing" They replied together.
"Yeah I'm not going to ask" He said standing up to pour himself a coffee.
AnnaBeth just shrugged and ate another handful of chocolate chips. Peter was more than used to her quirks and theories by this point she no longer felt the need to explain herself.
"Chocolate for breakfast?" Kelly asked as he sat down "Really?"
"I didn't judge your Vegas wedding don't judge my stress eating habits" She replied with a smile.
"Ok fair enough" He said stealing a handful and picking up the top paper on her pile "Who is Tristan Taylor the 3rd?"
"Well" Gabby said taking the paper "He owns a luxury hotel chain and has a summer home in the Bahamas and is worth…a lot"
"You don't want to know" She said "Saved by the bell"
She jumped up and followed Mills out to the ambulance. They had all been called out to a chemical spill. Thankfully when they got there no one had been injured so they just needed to stay back just in case. It was another first for her and she didn't like the thought of the damage hydrochloric acid could do to someone. She was glad she wasn't having to see it firsthand.
"So how come you're so against Lemon setting you up?" Peter asked.
"I don't want to date the same kind of people" She replied "Besides she is in love with Lavon and this is just her way of trying to ease her guilt so she won't feel so bad if they get together because I'm with someone new it's more about her than me"
"She told you that?" He asked.
"Not yet but I've known her my whole life" She replied "The thing is if she was just honest with me, I would tell her to go for it and be happy but it's the scheming"
"I'm sure she just wants you to be happy too" He said, "Are you sure you'd be ok with it?"
"My life's here now and I am getting over him" She nodded "You're right and even if she is scheming, which I know she is I should just be direct with her about it all"
AnnaBeth didn't know enough about the procedure when it came to chemical spills outside of the ambulance so she wasn't sure how the call was going but no one was hurt and apparently the spill had been contained so they were sent back to the firehouse.
"Sad there wasn't more action?" Peter asked.
"In that case, no" She replied "Sure I like to help people but if there are less horrific injuries, I'm good with that as well"
The rest of the day was quiet which was unusual but not completely unwelcome. Peter had told her Gabby was upset after the call but wanted to be left alone. She decided to give her a little bit of space first, but she knew if Gabby didn't talk to her at some point, she would go and see her.
She kept herself busy helping Cruz to make lunch for some more practice for the Molly's food truck. She let him do all the work while she talked him through it.
"Who's going to try it first?" She asked as Cruz set the wings down on the side.
Everyone looked between themselves, but no one volunteered. AnnaBeth glared at them all.
"Alright I'll do it" Herrmann sighed walking over.
Christopher took the tiniest bite and paused before going in for a second bite.
"Cruz these are actually good" He said in disbelief.
"What did I tell you" She said triumphantly "I knew you could do it"
Gabby still hadn't come back into the common room after her talk with Matt earlier. Peter had said to give her some space, but it had been a while since then. She found her in the bunk room reading a book. The way she was picking at the blanket made it clear she wasn't really concentrating on the book.
AnnaBeth sat down beside her and waited for her to start.
"I'm not ready to talk about it" Gabby told her "We knew it was going to be hard, but I just…"
"We don't have to talk about it" She said "I can just be here quietly, or I can tell you all about how Cruz actually made something edible, he is proud as can be"
"Thanks AB" Gabby said resting her head on AnnaBeth's shoulder.
AnnaBeth put an arm around her. She felt positive they would be able to work it out. Gabby and Matt belonged together they would find a way through their problems.
With the arguments that had gone on there was a strange vibe in the firehouse for the rest of the day. AnnaBeth was almost relieved when the bells went off the ambo 61. They had been called to a pool at night. There was a boy unconscious on the ground and a young girl giving CPR.
"Over here hurry" Another teenage boy called out.
Peter ran over to take over CPR while she grabbed the AED and followed behind him. After a few chest compressions the boy coughed up water and sat up with Peter helping him.
"Are you alright?" Peter asked him "Jason?"
AnnaBeth checked his blood pressure and heart rate which were both good. Peter and one of the other boys helped lift him up onto a stretcher.
"I was so scared" The girl said holding his hand.
"That CPR you did saved his life" She told her.
"I was a lifeguard over the summer" The girl replied.
"Alexis please don't call my Dad" Jason said.
"Danny already called him" Alexis said.
An older man came running through the pool area.
"Jason are you ok?" The man asked.
"He was unconscious for a few minutes, but he is lucid now and breathing on his own" Peter said
"We're going to take him to the hospital so he can be checked out thoroughly" She added.
"What hospital?" Jason's father demanded.
"Chicago med" She replied.
Peter handed her the keys to drive and she didn't argue as he got into the back with the patient. She was getting used to the routes and new the fastest ways to go she had been paying attention.
"AB secondary drowning, let them know he's gone into cardiac arrest and get us there fast"
AnnaBeth radioed through to the hospital to update them. By the time they got to the hospital they pronounced him dead.
She felt herself deflate. He was so young, and he had been ok. She had told his girlfriend that she had saved his life. There was nothing they could have done but it didn't make them feel any better. When they got outside there were reporters and cameras everywhere.
"What's going on?" Peter asked the security guard.
"The kid who was brought in was Papa Lullo's son" He replied.
"Who's that?" AnnaBeth asked
"The papers call him the John Gotti of Chicago" He replied.
AnnaBeth was still none the wiser but Peter looked worried and that was enough for her to feel the same way.
"You did everything you could" She told him when they got back to the firehouse "I know that doesn't help much but it's true"
"I know" He said giving her a hug seeing her eyes watering.
"Are you ok?" Kelly asked.
"We lost a kid" Peter replied as AnnaBeth wiped her eyes.
"Sorry to hear that" Kelly said.
"I'm going to try and get some sleep" She said squeezing Peter's hand.
She had no idea how such an uneventful day had been had become so awful so quickly. The end of shift could not come quick enough. She was up first and showered in the morning after a thankfully quiet night. She had brewed a fresh pot of coffee when next watch came in. She went to get changed, she decided to treat herself to breakfast before going home or at least to a cruller.
When she walked outside the man from the night before was being pulled off Peter.
"You're Dead" He growled as he was pulled back to his car.
Peter was told he had to wait in Boden's office while the police were called. AnnaBeth decided to stay with him she wasn't going to let her partner go through that alone.
"You don't have to wait with me" He told her as she took a seat.
"Do you really think I'm going to leave?" She asked raising an eyebrow "I'll buy you a cruller after"
"Thanks AB" He said with a small smile.
Chief Boden walked in looking concerned with Detective Halstead.
"Look Lullo is the real deal" Jay told him "You're going to have to stay on your toes, if you want to press charges"
"No" He interrupted "He's a grieving father"
"Mills this is not the type of threat that you let go by" Boden said with his arms folded.
"If I can just talk to him" Peter said.
"Bad idea" Jay told him.
"Peter" She said softly "This man sounds dangerous; I know you feel sorry for him, but you can't put yourself at risk like that"
"I am telling you now you let Detective Halstead handle this" Boden said.
Peter paused and then walked out with a sigh. AnnaBeth thought about chasing after him but she could see on his face he needed some time to cool down and process everything.
"You better keep him safe" She warned Jay on her way out of the door.