Half way there!

Week Twenty

~ Candidate is the size of a small artichoke ~

"Matt, I am serious…" growled Gabby as she followed her husband to the back door. "Do not be late, we have an appointment with Doctor Peterson and then with the ultrasound tech at 2pm. It's our twenty week scan. You can't miss it."

"I'm not going to miss it," reasoned Matt as he placed his briefcase down on the waiting bench before pulling and straightening his tie. Gabby shook her head quickly as she swatted his hands out of the way and fixed it for him. "But I've got this vote for the finance council today. I need to be there."

Gabby looked at him with wide eyes not quite sure what to make of it all. She hadn't seen him last night after what had been a busy day at work previous to that. She audibly sighed as Matt pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"I won't be late," he promised as he flung the door shut after himself. Gabby stood rooted to the spot for a minute or two watching as he hurried down the steps and towards his truck. Finally turning around, she made up her mind to get herself a hot drink and just sit in the bedroom that she had decided to turn into Smudge's nursery. Still needed to run that by Matt though.

Soon she was trudging up the stairs and into what was the fourth bedroom on their house plans, she had been tossing up which room to use for a few weeks now and whilst it was the one of the smaller one upstairs, it wasn't the smallest one they had, and it also had a balcony which she wasn't happy about. But at the same time, it was the easiest one to get to from their room. Maybe in a few years when Smudge was older they could be moved into a bigger bedroom that was elsewhere the house. She and Matt hadn't done much with this room, actually with two of the bedrooms since they had moved into this rather large house. The room that they had had for Louie had been stripped bare and quite quickly been turned into their guest room, Gabby hadn't been able to even look at the young boy's room that had been filled with toys, most items relating to firefighting, once he had left the family. So she had flung herself headlong into the job of changing it into a guest room fit for an adult.

Lowering herself down onto a chair that had been placed by the juliet balcony in this bedroom, she placed her steaming hot chocolate on the sideboard and laying a hand of her still fairly small bump. All through her reading, not to mention Matt's reading, she knew that she wasn't likely to 'pop' for a while yet, being what was technically a first pregnancy it more likely to happen anywhere between 20 and 24 weeks. Yet she still filed it away as a question that she wanted to ask her doctor later in the afternoon. Glancing down once more at her pudge, Kelly had been right, she still didn't really look pregnant more like she had big lunch.

Looking around the smallish room, she pondered what she wanted to do with this room for Smudge, most of Louie's stuff had been either boxed up in their garage or given away. Either way, she knew that there really wasn't any newborn items that they would be able to use. No, rather she was going to need to start thinking of the bits and piece she would need to purchase.

Closing her eyes allowing her body to rest, she allowed herself to think about what the nursery was going to look like. In her mind's eye, she could see a grey rocking chair near the windows along with a standard white crib. It's funny, Gabby had always thought that they would have had a wooden crib, but as she sat here thinking about it, it was clear as a day - a white crib. On the wall she could see a sticker decal - long skinny trees with the fall leaves cascading down the wall. And of course, taking pride of place in the cot was a plush fire truck. No matter what she thought of it all, their little Smudge was going to have plenty of fire department items.

Firefighting - the word caused her to flashback as she thought back on everything that had happened over the last few days. She had to continually remind herself that this whole running for alderman was actually something that she had pushed him to do, if she was frustrated with him she only had herself to blame. But their last shift had been one for the books. Gabby hadn't even been five feet in the door, or technically even started her shift when the first call had come through for Ambo 61, nor had she and Brett made it to roll call. Brett had bought them a sandwich for lunch from the cafeteria whilst she had been filling out paperwork at Med. She actually had half a mind to request that the PIC actually have a space to work in with the amount of paperwork that needed to be filled in, both at the house and whilst out on a run. Not to mention the incredibly late night she had had, it had been closer to 11 pm when she and Brett made their way into the bunk room. Normally she would think to poke her head into Matt's office to say goodnight, knowing full well that the lieutenant didn't sleep soundly when Ambo was out on a call, but that night she was much too tired. And it had only been 90 minutes until their next call out to respond to a patient down. And so the cycle had continued for the rest of the shift.

Understandably the only thing that Gabby wanted to do when the Caseys arrived home following the shift was sleep. And she had spent most of the day doing just that. And it had taken her by surprise when Kelly had shown up to take Matt out for a drink. With all of the hormones running around her body, she hadn't taken it very well at all. Looking back on it she could understand that Matt needed his own time, out with his own friends. After all hadn't she had quite a few nights out with the girls and Matt had never objected. Whereas last night as Matt walked towards the door following after Kelly she had managed to somehow get between the door and Matt and slam it shut after Kelly had walked out.

*Flashback*

Gabby turned on her spot to face Matt, her face like thunder. Matt actually took a step back for his own safety. Kelly, on the other side of the door, turned at the sound of the slamming wooden door, gave a wry smile and sat himself down on the top step knowing that there was no point in knocking on the door again. He didn't pity Matt, not one bit. He had seen some of Gabby's more serious mood swings - going from crying to shouting within a matter of mere minutes. He and Kidd might have a good thing going for them, but man he did not want to be in Matt's current position.

"I'm sorry," she mocked. "Did you may be forget to mention that you and Kelly were going out for drinks?"

"Gabby," Matt soothed placing a hand on her arm.

"Don't!" she ordered pulling back slightly. "We had plans tonight." Matt's hand dropped to his side as he thought about what is was she was telling him. He had been sure that they hadn't talked about doing anything tonight. Actually, he was sure that he had mentioned that Kelly had decided to take him out about four days ago. On all fronts, it had busy for Matt Casey over the recent weeks.

"Gabby, baby," he started again, pulling her gently towards the living room. Looking out of the window on the front door, he made eye contact with Kelly who gave him a small nod. In return Matt gave him a small tight lipped grimace, knowing that this might take a while. "Gabby," he repeated as they sat. She tried pulling away slightly, however he squeezed her upper arm carefully. "Babe, I did tell you about this… We spoke about it after shift at the beginning of the week…" Matt took a deep breath wondering how best to broach this with her. "Gabs, you were the one that suggested I go out with Sev," he reminded her gently.

The wind was knocked out of Gabby's sails, how could she not remember that. Who was she to take it out on him? A tear slowly made its way down her cheek, silently. A sob caught in her throat.

"Hey… Look at me," Matt directed, his rough calloused thumb wiping away at the lone tear. "It's okay."

"No it's not Matt…" tears welling in her eyes. "It's not okay." She stomped her foot on the floor trying to stop the tears coming. She didn't even know what had caused her to even snap like that. "I shouldn't have said that to you."

"I can tell Sev that we can do our drinking session tomorrow…" offered Matt, pulling her closer. "We can stay right here on the couch, if you'd like…"

"No," Gabby shook her head, she would not be the cause of him missing out on drinking and having a good time. Especially not when he had been so understanding about all of her girls nights.

Matt searched her face, looking for a sign, for something. Gabby gave him the brightest smile that she could manage at the moment, albeit not a big one. Nodding his head encouragingly, he finally stood up. Pressing a kiss on her forehead, he started towards the door. Pausing for a moment, he came back to pressed another kiss to her lips. "Don't wait up," he mumbled against her lips.

Gabby gave him a stupid grin as she watched him walk towards the door. Looking down, she whispered, "Looks like it's just you and me bebé."

*End Flashback*

"Guess it's still just you and me again bebé," Gabby whispered. Looking down at her watch she found that it was time that she needed to gather her things and head to Med for her appointment, she had spent more time daydreaming in the room than she had realised. Smiling to herself as she lifted herself to her feet, she looked around once more. "I can't wait for you to see your room Smudge. Everything is going to be perfect," she spoke aloud as she quietly shut the door to the bedroom.

Wondering where Matt was as she gathered her stuff together, all the while drinking water as she had been told too. These ultrasound machines had obviously been designed by a male, no pregnant person would ever willingly force another to drink the gallons of water required for a sonogram to occur. She was already beginning to feel uncomfortable. But Matt still wasn't home. Grabbing her cell from the waiting handbag on the kitchen counter, Gabby tapped her foot impatiently as she was instructed by Matt's voicemail to leave a message as he wasn't available. Hearing the message a further three times, Gabby glanced worriedly at the clock, knowing that if she didn't leave now she was going to be late for her appointment.

"Damn it Matt, where are you?" she pondered as she threw the car into reverse.

"So Gabby, did you have the amniocentesis done?" Clara questioned. "Last time we spoke you hadn't decided." Clara watched carefully at the young woman seated across the desk from her. Gabby had arrived slightly out of breath with a concerned look set on her features, Clara had been taken aback when she realised that Matt wasn't with her. Neither woman had brought it up though, with Clara not thinking it was her place to question, nor Gabby giving anything away to his whereabouts.

Gabby looked down at her hands slightly and shook her head. She was still annoyed that Matt had missed their appointment, she had reminded him quite a few times, yet he had still missed it. During the drive across to Med, Gabby had tried to call him another three times, but every time it had gone to voicemail. She had to struggle to not allow her mind to wander into an imaginary land where something may have happened to Matt. Wouldn't that be ironic? Work a dangerous, put your life on the line job every shift and then something happens off shift. But she was sure that he was just running late… Wonders would never cease.

"It's okay Gabby, we can do the test right up to your 20 week mark, but it's not that you have to have the testing."

"Matt and I had a chat about it. And I know that the risk of a miscarriage is less than 1 in 100…"

"You realise that is less than 1%."

"It's just the idea of that big needle going through my belly. I just can't Clara. After losing the first baby," she professed.

Clara reached out her hand out to squeeze Gabby's, "It's okay. Normally as your OB I would leave it at that. But at the same time I feel that I need to tell you everything," Gabby nodded waiting for her doctor to continue. "Look Gabby, the amniocentesis test is our most common diagnostic test. It's not particularly painful, honestly it doesn't hurt any more than it does when you have a blood test. For most women they are able to go back to work within a day or so, although in your line of work I probably wouldn't suggest it. It is quite normal to experience cramps, similar to cramps that you would feel during a period. But that's not an indication of an increased risk of miscarriage."

"So?"

"Honestly Gabby, Amniocentesis is highly accurate at finding out whether you baby has a chromosomal abnormality or a condition such as spina bifida… But this is completely up to you Gabby," Clara assured her.

Gabby looked down at her hands. She sniffed slightly trying to get her emotions under control. She had been so sure about her decision, along with Matt, they had spent hours talking about it. They just both been unable to shake the fear that lay deep in their hearts that something might happen. And even though she was halfway there in her pregnancy, any perceived threat however small it may be, it just wasn't a risk she was willing to take. No matter how much she told herself that nothing was going to happen, that Smudge was healthy she just couldn't allow herself to take that risk. Whatever the consequences of not having the test were, the Casey had been willing to take them. Gabby felt a tear drip down her cheek, now it seemed that she was making the wrong decision. And without Matt here everything just wasn't as clear as it had been a few days ago.

"Gabby," Clara spoke gently, "We don't need to do this today, any of it. I can reschedule everything and you can wait for Matt to be here with you. Remember there is nothing to force you to have these tests done. But I wouldn't be a good doctor if I wasn't sure that you were fully informed about every scenario. Gabby… There are many couples who choose not to have this testing done. Don't question yourself or any decision that you have made. If you and Matt are comfortable with this, then don't second guess yourself," she finished. Internally she was kicking herself for even bring up the testing, it was just that she was so used to having these conversations with all of her patients that she hadn't even stopped to think of how this might have been a trigger for Gabby.

A sudden knock on the door startled both Gabby and Clara out of their own little worlds. "Hi?" Matt stuck his head around the door. "Babe?" Matt rushed across the small room at the sight of the teary red eyes that Gabby had. "What is it?" he questioned as he knelt down in front of her chair.

"I'm just going to get a coffee and organise everything with the ultrasound," Clara offered as she eased herself up from her chair.

"No, no, no… Clara you don't have to do that…" Gabby interrupted. Clara waved her off, explaining that she would back in just a short while. Matt grabbed her hand and with his other hand dragged a chair closer for himself to sit next to her. Gabby turned her head away from him. She was upset at herself for not being able to stick to her decisions and she was equally mad at him for not having been around this morning and being late for their appointment. Whilst rationally she knew that Matt would never deliberately miss an appointment or not call, it still felt like she had been let down. That she wasn't the priority, damn these hormones for even making her feel this way.

"Gabby, I'm so sorry. The vote ran over time and you know what it's like in there…"

"No I don't," she bit back.

"I can't have my phone on. And then there were roadworks on the Kennedy Expressway, not to mention an accident..."

"Did you stop to help the Fire Department?" she snarled. Matt pulled back a bit, he knew that when he did arrive that she would likely be annoyed at him, but he hadn't thought that it was going to be such a frosty reception.

"No, but I did get stuck for over 20 minutes. I tried calling you baby, but it went to voicemail." Gabby gave him a look before fishing around in her handbag for her cell. Withdrawing it, she found that Matt was telling the truth, there were five missed calls for him. She sighed, letting her body sag. Matt shifted in his chair once more. Running a finger down her cheek, he let out a small exhale. "Why the tears?"

"Did we make the right decision about the amniocentesis test?" she questioned softly, her eyes downcast.

"Gabs, are we going to love Smudge any less if there is something wrong?"

"Of course not," she insisted.

"Then are we okay with not knowing? Herrmann told me that he and Cindy didn't have any of the testing done, but their tech was able to look for some markers for Down Syndrome. Maybe we can talk to Dr Peterson about this?" he wondered out loud. "Babe, it's okay. It's okay to be scared. And there is nothing wrong with not wanting to take the risk, no matter how small the chance that something could happen."

"But Doctor Peterson…"

Matt gritted his teeth slightly, he was so annoyed at himself for being late. If only he had been on time, then maybe he would have been able to prevent all of this worry. There had been many conversations about what tests they did or didn't want, just to save all the pressure at the doctor's office. "I'm sure Doctor Peterson was just doing her job. She does need to ensure that all of her patients are sufficiently informed." Gabby was only able to nod her head.

"Let's just get this over with then…"

"Wait… Gabby," he tightened the grip on her hands. "This is not about just getting it over with. This is a big milestone for Smudge." Gabby had to crack a smile. "Is that a smile that I'm seeing?" he teased giving her his own side smile. "That's better… I think we need to talk about me being late and everything you're feeling right now when we get home. But are you excited to see Smudge?"

She nodded letting her hand ghost over her swell. Matt gave a dry chuckle as his own warm hand joined hers. "So what are we waiting for? One step at a time, okay? I'm right here with you baby… Every step of the way," he promised.

There was a gentle knock on the door. Opening slowly, Doctor Peterson poked her head through the door, "Is it safe to come back in?" she teased as she let herself completely into the room. "How are you Matt?" she reached out to shake his hand.

"Good… Sorry about the late arrival. Alderman duties," he informed her returning the handshake.

Gabby frowned and shook her head as she rose to her feet. She might have accepted his excuse for being late, but that didn't mean she had to like it. "Okay, so I'm still sure about the testing… We're confident with no at this time," she looked for the nod of understanding from her OB. "If there's nothing else, can we see Smudge now?" she asked a sudden change of mood.

"Excited much?" mocked Matt, watching as Clara bit back a laugh, taking Gabby's hand into his own.

"More like Smudge is using my bladder as a trampoline… And I feel like I've drunk enough water that I'm going to burst…" she narrated as they made their way behind Clara into an examination room.

"Common complaint," acknowledged Clara as she watched Gabby settle onto the rather uncomfortable table. Once she was settled, Matt pulled up a stool for himself, all of this bring a smile to Clara's face. It was always nice to see a couple like this, one where the male was a gentleman and made sure that his wife was completely comfortable before setting up himself, one who wouldn't let anything divert his attention away from her.

"So, which poor technician did you inflict on us?" questioned Matt fidgeting in his seat. "Or should that be which poor technician has us inflicted on them?"

"You're looking at her," stated Clara pulling the ultrasound machine towards them. She gave a little chuckle at their shocked faces. "Yes, it's highly unusual but not unheard of for OB/GYNs to perform your ultrasounds. But after your last experience I wanted to do this. Keeps my hands fresh too," explained the doctor. "Warning cold!" squirting gel onto Gabby's bare belly.

Matt laughed softly as she shivered and took her hand.

"So I do need to ask this," began Clara. "This is the big scan - do we want to know the gender?"

Matt and Gabby locked eyes. She searched the depths of his blue eyes, searching for confirmation that what they had decided earlier was still what he wanted. She hated the fact that she was second guessing herself, but she wanted to be sure. Matt, on his part, saw the confusion in her eyes. Carefully he took her hand, kissing it and nodded encouragingly. Taking a deep breath Gabby responded, "Nope, don't want to know," she confidently said.

Clara nodded as she pressed the doppler wand into Gabby's belly. Gabby hissed slightly, "And when can I pee?" she yelped. Clara looked apologetic as she turned the screen around for the Caseys to look their ever growing child. Over the next 20 minutes, quite agonising long minutes for Gabby, Clara checked out and pointed out all of Smudge's major organs and body systems. She started at the brain, carefully inspected the spine - counting each vertebra. Smudge's heart echoed loudly in the quiet room as the heart was checked and Clara pointed out every one of the four chambers. Looking at the stomach, kidneys and bladder, Matt wiped away the tears that had started to form in Gabby's eyes.

Laughter resounded around the room as Clara made her way around Gabby's belly to check on all of the limbs and it could be clearly seen that Smudge was rocking their own little dance party. "Taking after Matt it seems," predicted Gabby again. Matt, try as he might, tried to look mock indignant. It just didn't seem to work for him, not with the wide smile he wore.

"I have a question?" he started. "I know we didn't go for the other genetic testing but one of my men mentioned something about markers for Down syndrome?"

"I'll be honest," Clara cautioned, "ultrasounds at this stage aren't a reliable way to detect Downs, but it can be used to pick up what we know as soft markers. If multiple soft markers are picked up then that might suggest an increased risk. But at the same time many of those markers are common and not a cause for concern. However, I do not see any of concern at all. Matt, Gabby I wouldn't be worried at all," she maintained.

Gabby felt a sob in her throat, as prepared as she thought she might be for anything, she couldn't deny the relief she felt. A part of her even felt a bit guilty for the relief she felt.

"Actually," started Clara, her wand still moving, "It's probably a good thing that you don't want to know the gender…"

"Why?" Matt questioned curiously.

"Baby here," she motioned towards the screen, "has decided to curl up quite tightly now. Good thing that I've finished all of the measurements…"

"And?" Matt asked impatiently. Gabby giggled slightly, she hadn't been joking with her own mother when she described Matt like a little boy in a candy store when it came to Smudge.

"Baby is fine, a little small. But growing fine."

"Small?" questioned Gabby concern lacing her words. Fear gripped her thinking that something was seriously wrong with her child and that she would have to go through a battery of tests. Matt's face too was showing a similar level of fear.

"No… No…" Clara clarified laying a hand on Gabby's forearm. "Here look," she flicked back through the ultrasound images. "So there are numerous factors that go into determining how big your baby is. On average at 20 weeks of gestation, a baby is about 10 inches long from head to toe and around 6 inches from head to rump. The head circumference at 20 weeks is between 5.9 to 7.8 inches in size. The humerus - which is the long bone in the arm - can range from 0.98 to 1.37 inches in length. The femur or the long bone in the leg may be around 1.1 to 1.49 inches in length…"

"Wow, that's a lot of numbers," muttered Matt. Gabby just glared at him. "What?" he questioned, "it is!" he defended himself.

"Anyway," laughed Clara, she knew there was a reason she had decided to do their ultrasound. She would always get a laugh out of the Caseys, especially Matt. "Anyway," she regained an air of professionalism, "Calculations are based on the four common fetal measurements, biparietal diameter, head circumference, femur length, and abdominal circumference," she finished, pointing out each of the measurements on each ultrasound image.

Gabby nodded along taking each bit of information in. "You can read about it when we get home Baby," she gently teased, looking at the confused look Matt wore.

"So baby Casey is measuring a little below average, nothing to be concerned about Gabby. You and Matt are both of average size, but you have a fairly small frame," she clarified for the couple.

"Hey," protested Matt. "I'm 5'10" … That's above average!"

Gabby laughed as she reached over to pat him on the knee comfortingly. "Babe, the average male is 5'9.5" ... You're not really above average."

"Either way, baby is growing well, I'm not seeing anything that concerns me at all."

"Any other bits of info for us?" Gabby questioned. "Is there something else that I need to be doing to make sure Smudge is okay?"

Clara shook her head as she started to pack up the machine, "Baby is approximately 313grams and the average estimated fetal weight for 20 weeks is 331grams. So really they are only just below average. Just keep doing what you're doing now and I believe everything will continue on this track," she informed them as she passed over the USB containing their latest precious photos.

"So?" questioned Cruz at the beginning of their next shift, after Boden had dismissed them from roll call.

Dawson shifted in her seat turning fully to face the newest and youngest squad member. "So what?"

"Are we expecting to get another boy on Squad?" Cruz bounced in his chair.

"Are you saying that only boys are good enough for Squad?" Kidd mock accused from her spot, shooting both Cruz and Severide a death glare as she noticed Severide open his mouth to say something. She knew that Severide would defend Cruz and agree with him wholeheartedly.

"It doesn't matter either way," Casey announced as he walked towards where Dawson was seated. "Smudge is going to be joining Truck," he gloated placing his warm hands on her shoulders, massaging them carefully.

Severide scoffed slightly. "Why would he want to join Truck when Uncle Kelly is on Squad?"

"Why would she want to join Squad when Aunt Stella is on Truck?" fired back Kidd.

"Excuse me," interrupted Brett, "Why would she do either of those things… Everyone knows that her favourite Aunt Sylvie is going to get her onto Ambo… Just like her Mama."

"What's the all the Aunts and Uncles here?" mused Jimmy. As much as he had his own brother in the service with him, he was still getting used to the whole 'your fire family is as close as your own flesh and blood family' idea.

Dawson glanced up, catching Casey's eye before thinking she might just stir the pot even more. "Guys, Tio Antonio wants Smudge to join CPD. You're all going to have to fight him for that right," she laughed.

"Oh hell no," Herrmann announced. "He is joining a fire eating family, none of this police business stuff," he commented looking around nodding at the entire 51 family. Even Mouch was nodding.

"Mouch, you might want to think carefully before agreeing," mentioned Casey. "Think what Platt would say."

Mouch's head stopped mid nod. He loved his wife, but everyone knew who wore the pants in that relationship. "No… no…" he stammered. "Kid's a fire eater… Trudy's just gonna have to accept that."

"Yeah… Riggghttt.." drawled Otis, a wide grin across his face.

"Not a chance. Trudy would never agree to that," a new voice joined the conversation. All the heads snapped towards the doorway to find Antonio standing a smirk upon his face. "My nephew is following his Tio into the CPD…"

"Nephew?" questioned Cruz, his eyes wide.

"The question is what's a Tio?" questioned Capp out of the side of his mouth to Herrmann who gave him a throaty chuckle.

"Oh, he knows nothing," clarified Dawson. Antonio gave her a smirk as he made his way over to his sister and brother-in-law. Placing a kiss on her cheek, she gave him a weird look, "What are you doing here 'Tonio?"

"I know you had an appointment yesterday and I told Mama I was going to see you to find out about it," he mentioned. Dawson furrowed her brow.

"I spoke to Mama this morning, she said nothing. We have dinner in a few weeks at their house anyway," she shot back

"Come now sis…"

"We don't know." Antonio grasped onto his sister's shoulder, eyes wide in shock, trying to read her face, was she having him on? His own sister Gabriela, she was the type that needed to know everything. Growing up, around Christmas time, a young Gabby would spend weeks pestering everyone and anyone who would listen to her trying to pry out the information of what her parents may have bought for her. There was no way that she hadn't found out what she was having. Gabby was so Type-A that she would need to know so that they could have everything ready. "What do you mean you don't know?" The house watched silently, their eyes following the interaction between the siblings, none of them too sure what was going to happen next.

"Exactly what I said hermano… We didn't find out."

"But…" he stuttered again.

"Antonio, what are you doing here? Even I know there's another reason," Casey interrupted, knowing that the Dawsons could go back and forth for hours without finding a solution. He had been caught in it a number of times, he never could work out where they both got their stamina from.

Antonio turned to look at him, breaking out of the glare he was shooting his sister. He had forgotten how well Casey had learnt to read him, the similarities between the married couple was actually a bit scary. "I'm here to see Chief Boden about a case… Chief - could I have a word?" Antonio questioned. Boden gave him a slight nod, motioning towards his office. He leant down to peck his sister on the cheek again, "Stay safe Sis," he mentioned before bumping shoulders with Casey, "Bro," he acknowledged, who nodded in reply.

Dawson glanced around as her brother left the common room and noticed that Brett was watching intently the retreating figure. "Hey," Dawson lowered her head and voice so that it was only the blonde who could hear, "Do not go there… It's not a good idea… If I need to, we will talk about this later… Bad idea!" Brett flushed and looked away, muttering about how it was nothing like that. She shook her head, trying to convince Dawson that there was nothing in it, she was just admiring a physique and that was it. Obviously, Antonio was a good looking man, as was many of the other officers who worked in the Intelligence unit, but she would never think of him in that particular light ever.

"So," Severide walked over to clap Casey on the shoulder, "What are you having?"

"We don't know," Casey repeated.

"What?"

"We didn't find out," Casey drawled slowly as if saying it slower might mean that the Squad member would be able to understand.

"Why?" Otis joined in. "Why wouldn't you find out?"

"There are few surprises left in this world," Dawson took over. "We decided a long time ago that we weren't going to find out." She looked around at the many shocked faces that looked back at her. They knew it was the popular choice for many couples to find out whether they were having a boy or girl, but after everything they had been through they just wanted Smudge to be healthy. "What?" she snapped at them, "Are you going to love our child any less if we have the gender you weren't expecting? If we don't have a boy who joins Truck or Squad, then that's not okay?" she shrieked, clearly agitated.

"Hey, hey…" Casey whispered bending down to her level. He ran a soothing hand along her back. "They're probably just surprised is all."

"Yeah, Mama." Cruz was the first to make his way over to her. "We're just excited for you. Doesn't matter if it's a boy or a girl… Either way, they're gonna have a kick ass mother," he told her. Dawson looked up and gave him a smile.

"That's right," added Herrmann. "Kid's going to be a welcome addition to the family, no matter what."

"But you're hoping for a boy, right?" whispered Severide cheekily in Casey's direction. "What?" he mouthed as Dawson kicked him in the shins. "It was a joke!" he defended himself. Casey could only shake his head as he heard the tones ring.

"You'll never learn, will you Sev?"

~ She may have thin eyebrows and is sprouting some hair on her head ~

As always huge hugs to Rebecca, especially this week x

Thanks for reading, let me know what you think ~Em