Here's an all new chapter. I hope you'll like it. Thank you for all your lovely reviews. It's great to see how much you care about this story and it encourages me to continue it.

Enjoy reading and Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers,

Miss Eliza

Matt

Sunlight was falling through the curtains of his bedroom. Matt could feel the warmth of it on his face. He opened his eyes and reached for the alarm clock that had went off on his nightstand. It was 6am, so he still had some time to take a shower and get ready for shift. He yawned and got out of bed. Maybe a shower would help him to wake up. The floor tiles in the bathroom felt cold beyond his feet. The glass door of the shower was still open from the day before. Matt got in, closed the door and turned on the faucet. Warm water started to spray down on his body. Sweet memories came into his mind, when he used to shower with Gabby before shift, to "save time". They had always enjoyed those little private moments before spending 24 hour in one of the busiest firehouses of the city. He turned the water off and grabbed a towel from the rack. After he dried himself, Matt walked back into his bedroom and got dressed for shift. His duffle bag was on the chair next to the dresser. He took it and threw some clothes for the next day and his phone in. When the phone sensed the movement, the lock screen flashed and he saw a notification that someone left a voicemail. It couldn't be the same person from the night before, because this time there was a caller ID. He didn't recognize the number though. Maybe it was someone who needed some construction work done. Matt put the phone into his pocket and left the bedroom to make himself some coffee and a sandwich before heading out to work. He sat down at the kitchen counter and looked at his phone. While taking a sip of hot coffee, he decided to listen to the voicemail. He could really need some more construction work, it helped him to forget about the mess his life was right now. He unlocked the screen and dialed to listen to his voicemail. When he heard the message, he nearly choked on his coffee.

"Matt, this is Gabby. I still love you too and I really need to talk to you. Please call me back. Bye" Was he dreaming? Matt couldn't believe what he had just heard. When his phone asked him if he wanted to call back, he pressed yes.

Gabby

Her heart was pounding hard against her chest when she picked up the phone. "Hey Matt" She managed to say. "Hi Gabby, how are you?"

Great question. How was she? Pregnant, alone, scared… "I'm okay. My job is a little bit stressful at the moment. We'll start to build a new hospital next month. How are you? Everything okay at 51?"

"Wow, that sounds like an interesting project. I'm okay and yes, everything's fine at the firehouse." Matt decided that the small talk needed to come to an end. "But I'm pretty sure that's not the reason you called me after leaving me in the dark for six weeks."

"Matt, I'm so sorry." Gabby started to cry. Damn hormones. "I shouldn't have left you like that, but I told you the truth. I wouldn't have had the strength to go, if I had talked to you that morning. I'm so sorry."

"I know. But why did you have to change your phone number?"

"Because I knew, if you had called me and told me how much you still loved me, I would have taken the next plane to Chicago. But I needed some space to start my new life."

"So why are you calling me now? Telling me you still love me?" He sounded annoyed and Gabby couldn't blame him.

"Because I do. I still love you. I never stopped missing you since I came here. I didn't have a god night's sleep since I left you."

"I still love you too, Gabby. And I didn't have a good night's sleep either since you left. But that doesn't change the fact that you're living in Puerto Rico now."

"I know." Gabby took a deep breath. She knew, she couldn't tell him the news on the phone. "I need to talk to you in person. I really do. Can you maybe come here for a weekend?"

"Gabby, I would love to, but where will that lead us? You don't want to come back to Chicago right now and I don't want to move to San Juan. It's a dead end."

His words felt like a slap in the face. Gabby couldn't help starting to sob really hard. "Please, Matt. I…I…really need you."

"Gabby? Why are you crying? Is something wrong?" Now he sounded worried. She could have said yes and she knew he would have been there in a heartbeat. But she didn't.

"I wish I never left."

"Me too." His voice sounded emotional.

"I can't come back yet, because of my job, but I really need to see you. Can you please come here? Please?" Begging was something Gabby didn't do, unless she was really desperate and Matt knew it.

"Gabby baby, tell me what's wrong" Hearing him call her baby made her heart skip a beat. Tears started to roll down her face again.

"I can't right now. Please come here. I need you."

"Gabby you have me really worried. What the hell is going on?!"

"I…I'm…I can't do this." She hung up the phone and broke down sobbing right where she was. In the kitchen. On the floor. At least that's what she thought she did, but she missed the button. Matt's voice came out of her phone. "Gabby? Gabby? Baby? What is wrong? Can you hear me? Gabby?" But she didn't hear him. She cried until she had no tears left but she still didn't have the strength to get up. After a few minutes she realized that there was a voice coming out of her phone and it sounded a lot like her worried husband. Finally she got up and reached for the phone. "Matt? I'm sorry you heard that." She looked at the clock on the wall. "Don't you have to go to work?"

"Positive. But my wife was having a breakdown on the phone and I was worried sick. Would you mind telling me now?"

"I can't, Matt. I can't tell you on the phone." This time she made sure she pressed the right button. There was a knock on her front door. Gabby opened it and Carrol walked in. "You look terrible. Have you called your husband?" Gabby nodded. "From the look on your face I can see it didn't went well."

"I had a breakdown and he heard it and now he's worried sick but I couldn't tell him on the phone, that I'm pregnant. I asked him to come here."

"And?"

"I hung up"

"Gabriela Dawson, are you out of your mind?!" Carrol couldn't believe what she had just heard. "You call your husband after leaving him in the dark for six weeks and you hung up?"

"Maybe he'll call me back." Gabby was a little bit hopeful.

"Or maybe he's really pissed right now. I wouldn't blame him. What is wrong with you? That's not you."

"I know" Gabby looked down. "Guess I made it worse."

"Yep." Carrol hugged her. "But you said he was worried. Not pissed. At least not on the phone. Maybe that's a good sign."

"Maybe." Gabby looked at her watch. "We need to go to work. I have a meeting with Carter and some guy from the building control department."

The two women grabbed their bags and left.

Matt

After Gabby had hung up on him, Matt didn't know what to do. Deep inside he knew something had to be terribly wrong, because otherwise Gabby wouldn't have called him. But he wasn't ready to go to Puerto Rico yet. He grabbed his bag and his keys and drove to the firehouse. When he got out of his truck, he saw Kelly leaning against his Mustang. "You look like you've seen a ghost." Kelly stated the obvious.

"More like being on the phone with one." Matt sighed, shouldered his duffle back and walked towards the firehouse.

Kelly's eyes grew wide and he went after him. "What?! Are you serious? Did Gabby call you?"

"Yep."

"So she was the mysterious caller from last night?" Kelly couldn't believe it.

"Probably. Last time she left her number so I called her back." Matt wasn't really in the mood to talk about the situation but he knew Kelly wouldn't stop until he had.

"What did she say?" They entered the firehouse through the side entrance.

"Told me she still loved me and wanted to talk to me in person." Matt put his duffel bag down on the bank in front of his locker.

"And?" Kelly was really curious now. "Geez Casey, trying to get information out of you is like trying to get blood out of a stone."

"She wanted me to go to San Juan, said she really needed to talk to me. But I told her it's a dead end. She doesn't want to come back to Chicago yet and I don't want to move to Puerto Rico." Matt put his bag into his locker and closed the door.

"If you're so sure of that, why are you looking like crap?" Kelly wasn't buying it. He knew how much he missed his wife.

"I don't know. She started crying and wanted to hang up but she must have missed the button and then she had a breakdown. I could hear her sobbing. Afterwards I begged her to tell me what's wrong but she just told me she couldn't do it and hung up. This time for real."

Matt buried his face in his hands. "Something has to be terribly wrong. Otherwise she never would have called me and it drives me crazy that she didn't tell me."

Kelly patted him on the back. "I know. You should call her again. Talk to her and if she doesn't tell you on the phone, book a flight and talk to her in person."

They left the locker room and went to the conference room for roll call. Chief Boden was already waiting for them. "Good morning, gentlemen." He gave them a stern look. "Hope you had a nice chitchat."

"Sorry, Chief" They both said and sat down.

After roll call Matt went straight back into his office to call Gabby. He didn't notice Mouch sitting on the small couch next to his office, reading something. Matt closed the door and sat down at his desk. He held the phone in his hands. His finger over the call button next to Gabby's name. Taking a deep breath he pressed it and waited. She didn't pick up. Maybe she was in a meeting. He decided to try again later. Not wanting to think about it anymore, Matt got out of his office and went back into the common room, where some of the guys were watching a football game. Kelly gave him a quick look. "No luck?"

Matt just shook his head and sat down on a chair. He didn't really watch the game, because he couldn't stop thinking about Gabby. Mouch entered the common room and sat down next to him. "How are you, lieutenant?"

"I'm fine. Thanks." Matt really didn't want to talk about it. Not again.

"I just wanted to let you know, that I'll be there for you, if you need to talk to someone."

"Thanks, Mouch. I really appreciate it." Mouch's phone started to ring and he left the common room to get the call.

Gabby

The meeting with the building control department went really well. They knew how much the city needed this new hospital and were very cooperative. They were impressed by Carter's experience and Gabby's enthusiasm. "I don't think there'll be any obstacles getting all the permissions you need." Mr. Baker told them. "I'll make sure everything gets done quickly."

"Thank you" Carter shook his hand. "We really appreciate that. The sooner we can start building the better. People really need medical care."

After he had left, Carter looked at Gabby. "You have done a great job so far."

"Thank you." Gabby yawned. "Sorry, I just feel pretty tired." Gently she stroked her stomach.

"That's normal in your condition. The baby takes a lot of your energy." Carter was a little bit worried because Gabby was tired all the time the last few days. "But you've been tired a lot and I have a hunch that it's not because of the baby."

"You're right." Gabby looked down. "Did Carol tell you?"

Carter nodded. "Not everything but most of it. She needed someone to talk."

"It's okay. I know how close the two of you are and you're right. It's because of the mess my life is right now."

"Dawson, your life is perfectly fine. You have a great job, you are married to a guy you love and who loves you and you're expecting a baby."

"You left out the fact the we're separated and he doesn't know about the baby."

"That can be changed very easily. Talk to him." Carter encouraged her. "In fact we're done here for today and I'm sure the rest of the team can get along without you for one day."

"I don't know…" Gabby started to object but Carter cut her short. "Yes you do. As your doctor I'm telling you to go home, call your husband again and talk it out. I don't care whether on the phone or in person but you need to tell him before it eats you alive. Emotional stress can be dangerous for an unborn baby."

"Alright, alright. I'm out of here" Gabby grabbed her things and left the office. She knew that she had to call Matt again but she wasn't sure if she was ready yet. But then she remembered something Mouch had once said to her. "There's no such thing as the perfect timing. But if you miss out on something good, you'll deeply regret it one day." She sighed and got into her car. Before she started the engine she texted Carol, who was in the field today, that Carter would take her home later. There was a missed call. Matt. She would call him after she got home. Gabby stopped at a supermarket and bought some ice cream, pizza and a bottle of lemonade. She knew she had to eat healthy but right know she needed some junk food. One time wouldn't hurt. When she got home, she settled down on the couch with her cozy warm blanket and the pizza. Scrolling through the contacts on her phone, she stopped at a name and pressed call.

"Dawson? Is that you?"

"Hey Mouch, yes, it's me."

"You sound as miserable as Casey looks right now."

"Can he hear you?" Gabby asked anxious.

"Of course not. I'm not that stupid." Mouch sounded a little bit offended.

"Good." Gabby took a deep breath. "I really need him to come to San Juan but he won't do it."

"Did you tell him the reason why you want him to come over?"

"No, I can't do that on the phone. I want to tell him in person and I still need to figure some things out."

"You better hurry up. That poor guy is suffering torments right now and you sound like you are too."

"I am." Gabby's voice was emotional. "Can you get him to come here?"

"No, Gabby. I won't get involved. That's your job or maybe ask Severide but he wouldn't take it well if I was involved."

"Why not?"

"Because you are his wife and Severide is his best friend but he's my boss. You don't tell your boss what to do."

"Oh right, haven't thought of that. Guess I need to make that call."

"Yes and do it now. I'll go back into the common room, where he's watching the football game with the guys. If you don't call him, I'll tell Severide and ask for his help."

"Thank you, Mouchie."

"You're very welcome. And please call him. We both don't want Severide to kick his ass. Last time that didn't play out very well."

Gabby ended the call and dialed again. She knew the number by heart. After what felt like an eternity he picked up. "Gabby? How are you?"

"Better, thanks." She took a deep breath. "I wasn't kidding when I said there's something I need to tell you."

"I know. Why can't you just tell me on the phone?"

"It's something you don't talk about on the phone. It's something you need to talk about in person."

"Okay, now I'm even more worried. Why don't you just come back to Chicago and we talk?"

"Matt, I can't. There are more things I need to figure out."

"Alright Gabby, you don't want to come back, you don't want to tell me on the phone, what do you want from me?! And don't tell me you just want to see me. We both know that's not true." He sounded pissed and after what had happened this morning, she couldn't blame him. This was too important. This was one of those chances Mouch had talked to her about.

"Matt, I never said I don't want to come back. I said I can't come back yet. But I guess if you won't come unless I tell you what's wrong, I'll tell you on the phone."

"Thank you, Gabby. It means a lot. I promise I'll come, if you tell me what's wrong. But you have to understand that I need to know first."

"I do. I left you in the most terrible way last time. I owe you this." Gabby's heart was beating very fast. She was afraid how he would react, afraid because she couldn't see his face.

"Matt, can we change to facetime?"

"Of course."

Gabby pressed the camera button and Matt's face appeared on her screen. Mouch was right, he looked miserable.

"Hey, good to see you. You look tired, are you sure, you're okay?" Oh how she had missed seeing his face. Gabby finally had the courage to tell him.

"I am." She smiled. "I know what I'm going to tell you will be shocking and I want you to know that we don't need to leap to any conclusions."

"Okay" Matt looked confused.

"I went to the doctor last week and well…" She had a hard time speaking it out loud. "I… I am…" She stopped.

"You are?" Matt tried to help.

"Pregnant" Bam. Her words hit him like a punch in the gut. She saw his expression changing from worried to happy and back to very worried. And that was when it hit her. She had forgot to tell him about the non-existent aneurysm.

"Oh Gabby, I'm so sorry…" He started to apologize but Gabby cut him short.

"Oh Matt, don't be. I am sorry. I forgot to tell you something very important: I went to a doctor because I was worried sick after I took the test. I really didn't want to die alone in Puerto Rico leaving a baby behind. So I had an MRI and it turned out the doctor in Chicago was wrong. There's no aneurysm. It's just scar tissue."

Matt looked like he got hit on the head. "Matt? Are you okay? Do you understand what I just said?"

"Yes, yes…I…wow." He looked at his wife and Gabby saw tears in his eyes. "Is the doctor sure?"

"Yep. 100 percent. " Gabby felt a single tear rolling down her cheek. "Are you happy?"

Matt didn't say anything. He just nodded. "I don't know where this leaves us, but I want you to know that I really want to come back to Chicago as soon as I got everything figured out here, because I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I'm so sorry I ran away. We fought over nothing. I feel so stupid."

"Gabby, I'm sorry too. I'm sorry you had to go through this alone and I'm sorry I didn't take the next plane, because I really want to take you in my arms and kiss you right now."

"Yeah, this sucks." Gabby managed to smile. "I could say I told you so, but I'm not going to do it. Because I miss you like crazy and I want you to come here as soon as possible. I need my husband and baby daddy."

"I miss you too and I'll talk to the Chief right after this and take the next plane to San Juan. I love you. Both of you." He blew a kiss and Gabby kissed her screen. "But don't tell anyone about the baby, except the Chief and Kelly."

"I won't." He promised. "I can't wait to have you in my arms again. I love you. See you soon!"

"I love you too. Bye" Gabby ended the call. She felt relieved. Matt still loved her and he would be here in a few hours. She finished her pizza and got the ice cream out of the fridge. She was really craving something sweet right now. When she sat down on the couch again she saw a message from Matt. "Talked to the chief and booked a flight. Plain leaves in 4 hours, so I'll see you in about 8 hours and 30 minutes. Can't wait. Love you. XXX"