Gabby locked the front door behind her and headed to the sink for a glass of water, she'd been out running this morning but it was the first time she'd been by herself since her meltdown. Matt had a construction job meeting that she'd insisted he kept. It was for a big contract on some fancy bar opening across town and she knew the money would help with the wedding. Matt wasn't sure it was a good idea but had finally caved and said he would go, but she was to text him and let him know she was ok at regular intervals and if she needed someone to come over she called one of the guys from 51, or someone from the district.

She'd been doing better ever since her blowup in the park a week ago, as the days past normality seemed to be making a more regular appearance, she was still having some difficult days but they were becoming less frequent and her trouble sleeping seemed to be passing as well. Matt had noticed she'd got more energy and she seemed to have a new outlook on life. He had come home from the store the other day to find her and Shay in the living area with wedding preparations spread from one side of the room to the other, the minute he'd entered the apartment she'd got him looking at menu samples and seating chart layouts. It had turned into a all evening affair with Shay not leaving until gone midnight saying she was exhausted and needed to get some rest, they had tried to get her to stay but she said she needed a proper bed as she'd had a busy shift the previous day and was back on shift tomorrow. Gabby however didn't seem to share her exhausted demeanor and spent the next half an hour filling Matt in on everything they had discussed before he'd got home and asking his opinion on the choices she liked.

As she began her cool down stretches a loud knocking at the front door made her jump, she wasn't expecting anyone and Matt would call her if he couldn't get in knowing that any sudden noise freaked her out. She froze unsure of what to do, fear ripping through her body grounding her to the spot she stood in. Again the door banged loudly, she took out her phone and dialed Antonio's number.

The minute he answered Gabby started to babble down the phone, "Antonio are you working? If you aren't can you come over please, someone is banging on the front door and I'm too scared to see who it is. Matt's not here he's working, please Antonio come please."

"Hey Gabby, it's ok. I'm at the door." he sounded concerned, he hadn't meant to scare her. He didn't realize just how jumpy she was at the moment.

"It's... you?" Gabby breathed, relief flooding through her body.

"Yes sis, open up. I brought food."

Gabby walked slowly towards the door and undid the bolts and chain, opening it slowly she saw Antonio stood there with a bag in his hand and a worried look on his face. "You ok?" he questioned as she moved to the side to let him in.

"Yea sorry. I wasn't expecting anyone and when you knocked it scared me, sudden noises have that effect on me at the moment."

"Sorry, I didn't realize." he watched as she locked the door back up before moving towards the center of the room. He pulled her in close to him and hugged her tightly, her body relaxing against him. It was the first time they'd had chance to see each other since she'd bumped into him in the mall. They'd spoken on the phone a lot but he hadn't been able to get away from work, apparently he'd been doing an undercover gig with one of his CI's trying to take down a major drug trafficking ring. At first the news of him being undercover had unnerved Gabby but after being assured he was only under for short periods she had relaxed slightly. Releasing her from his grip he held up the bag smiling, "from the pancakes you like." She smiled back taking the bag from him and heading towards the kitchen.

"Do you mind keeping it warm while I just shower quickly?" She asked, "I've only just got back from a run."

"Yea no worries."

She headed towards the shower feeling relief at seeing her brother, he looked well, better than she thought he would after being shot a month ago. Antonio kept himself busy in the kitchen while she was gone, tidying away the dishes that were drying on the rack and setting the coffee machine to go. Twenty minutes later a refreshed looking Gabby reentered the kitchen.

"You didn't have to tidy up." she said, shocked to see the kitchen spotless.

"I had some time" he shot back chuckling.

"It's good to see you bro, how you doing?"

"I'm fine." he replied "I'm here to see how you are doing?" he eyed her trying to work her out. He'd never seen his sister as on edge as she was when he first got here, she'd always been feisty and fearless, something that got her in a lot of trouble as a teenager.

"Honestly I'm doing better. Last week was tough really tough, I struggled with my emotions, I didn't sleep very well and I kinda blew up at Matt." she pulled her bottom lip in between her teeth looking at Antonio's worried face, "but we dealt with it and I've been doing loads better ever since. My sessions with Dr Charles are going well and he's helped me dig deeper to try and find the route cause of some of my emotions." she grabbed two plates out the cupboard and started serving up the food Antonio had brought. "Do you remember what happened at the benefit dance when I was in tenth grade?"

"That's a night I'll never forget sis. I was so angry with that girl."

"Yea, well Dr Charles thinks her bullying was the route cause of some of my problems and that particularly night is why I need to always be in control of situations. He thinks that's why I reacted so badly to seeing you hurt, because it was the moment I realized that my hero." She smiled at the smirk that spread across his face, "don't go getting a big head now will you?" she joked.

"Me? Never!" he replied chuckling at her.

"Anyway," she draws the word out sarcastically rolling her eyes at him, "he says that was the moment I realized you were only human too. And because you'd been protecting me all these years I felt helpless when I couldn't do the same for you."

"Gabby" Antonio interrupted "There was nothing you could have done. You did everything right!" his stare pierced through her. The older Dawson trying to judge whether or not she believed him.

"I know that now" she bit her lip roughly again, "but I didn't at first. I blamed myself."

"Gabby you didn't do anything wrong."

"No I know, but I felt like I could have done more. I didn't believe I'd done anything right until Dr Charles made me think of things I could have done differently and I could only think of one thing."

They moved towards the dining table and sat eating quietly discussing everything that had been happening recently, Antonio told her he was happy to be back at work but it was causing some issues with Laura. Laura was Antonio's ex wife, they'd got divorced after he got badly injured during an op and he refused to stay away from work, she said she couldn't do it anymore. She couldn't sit at home waiting for a phone call or police car turning up to tell her he'd been killed in the line of duty. They'd shared custody of their two children Diego and Eva ever since, but after he got shot again Laura was making it difficult for him to see them regularly. Gabby wasn't shocked by this. Although her and Laura had been close she'd always seen the way she treated Antonio when it came to the kids and she never liked it, she used them like weapons and only allowed him full access when it suited her. Gabby could understand that she was concerned on the effect his job had on them, especially since Diego had been kidnapped by one of their suspects not long back, she totally got why she was protective but she also saw the way she controlled him through them and she didn't like it.

"So hows the wedding planning going?" he asked.

"Really well, me and Matt are actually going to look at a spot tonight for our reception, it's over looking Chicago and a perfect spot for a giant tent and private function, plus it's outside and you know how much I love outside this time of the year."

"It sounds perfect do you have any pictures." he smiled at her beaming face, of course she had photos this was Gabby, she was always organised.

"Yea, let me get my laptop."

The next couple of hours were spent with Gabby showing Antonio ever single detail of the wedding plan so far, and chatting happily about all her ideas. As the time draw on Gabby realized she was due at Dr Charles' office soon, she asked if he minded dropping her off as Matt was still held up in his meeting.

"Yeah sure." He replied.

"Thanks"

She packed away all the wedding stuff and made sure the apartment was locked up before heading out, Antonio asked if she wanted him to wait for her as he knew Matt usually did but she told him she'd be fine. Her session with Dr Charles was good and by the end of it he told her he didn't think she needed to come everyday anymore unless she wanted to.

"Can I discuss it with Matt and let you know tomorrow?"

"Of course, I'll see you tomorrow. Have a nice evening."

Leaving his office Gabby pulled her phone out to a message from Matt.

Hey baby, hope your session went well. I'm still stuck at this job I've no idea how long it's going to be until I'm finished, are you going to be ok? I can get Shay to come over if you like?

Hey, session was good. Antonio mentioned that some of the district guys were going to Molly's tonight so I might just head there and hang with the guys.

If that's what you want to do baby. I'll meet you there later. Love you oxox

Ordering herself a uber she messaged Shay to ask if she was about and wanted to meet up at Molly's, she didn't have to wait long before her phone pinged again.

Hey girl! Yea I'll be there! :)

Cool see you at 6?

I'll be there. xoxo

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"So there's Antonio in his boxers and Voight says..."

"You better get some clothes on and get you ass in that car now." Antonio finished Al's sentence for him. "To be fair I did have two days left on my leave, I didn't know he was going to turn up at my doorstep."

"Yea well we needed you mate." Ruzek said patting him on the back, "couldn't have caught them without you and your inside knowledge."

Everyone's head turned as the door opened "Gabby! Dawson!" shouts from all over the bar came in her direction as she walked in. It was nice to have such a welcoming entrance.

"Hey" she smiled sliding into the seat next to Antonio.

"Hey sis, how did it go?"

"Really well thanks."

"Drink Gabby?" Ruzek asked.

"Yes please, I'd love a beer."

"Coming up."

It didn't take long for the night to be in full swing, Gabby felt really good letting her hair down for the first time in weeks, and when Matt arrived an hour later she was already several beers in.

"Hey baby" she said flinging herself at him, he looked shocked at her drunken state.

Raising an eyebrow at Antonio he asked "How many have you had?"

"Four maybe five who's counting?!" she giggled.

He couldn't help but smile at her usually he'd be telling her to slow down and take it easy but tonight it was refreshing to see her so free spirited and carefree, he hugged her tightly, while leaning down to take her in a deep kiss. "I missed you" he whispered in her ear.

"I missed you too" she whispered back, holding onto his waist and looking towards Hermann behind the bar, "Hey Hermann, can you get my man a beer please, he's been working hard all day."

"No problem." He replied grinning at Matt.

Matt signaled to Gabby that maybe they should sit down, she nodded slipping her hand into his and back into the seats her and Antonio had occupied moments earlier, the older Dawson standing up to give his sister his seat.

"So" Matt asked "Hows it been Antonio?"

"It's good to be back at work" he replied "I'm still not back up to full duties but it hasn't stopped me doing most of my job."

"He's being modest" Adam said "The last case would never have been closed without him would it Al?"

"That it wouldn't!" Al agreed. Matt chuckled as Antonio shook his head, in all the time he had known the Dawson family he had never once known them to take credit when credit was due, he figured it must be a family trait.

Hermann placed a beer in front of Matt and another round down on the table "There you go guys."

"Thanks Hermann." they all replied.

"How did the meeting go?" Gabby asked turning to Matt.

"Not bad, I think I'll be offered the contract but it's a huge job and it's going to take up a lot of time" he paused eyeing her carefully, "I'm not sure if it's a good idea at the moment."

"What? Why?" Gabby asked.

"Well I don't like the fact it'll take me away from you pretty much every down day we have. You know I don't like taking jobs that do that anyway but at the moment I really feel like I should be spending my time focusing on you." He kissed her forehead gently. "You are the most important person in my entire life Gabby and you being ok is more important to me than the extra money."

"Matt I'll be fine" she began to argue.

"I know that but I'm not sure I will be." he responded gently, watching Gabby's face fall. "These past few months, but especially this past week I've realized something."

"What?"

"That you and I are what's important, not how big our wedding is, not how big the house or apartment is, but us and our quality time. Our mental health and physical health. I'm not saying that the money wouldn't be helpful but honestly I'm not sure it's worth it."

"Matt, I love you. But you love your construction gigs, you always have done. I don't want you to turn down a job because of me and then resent me in a few years because of it."

Matt took a sip of his beer watching her and trying to see any sign that she was putting a brave face on like she had so many times over the past few weeks, when he found none he said "Ok, I'll make you a deal. If I get offered the job, I'll take it but I'm going to take on some extra help so it isn't always me on site ok?"

"Deal" she held her bottle up and clinked it against his.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Shay!" Gabby yelled as the blonde finally walked through the door, "what took you..." she stopped as she noticed another girl directly behind her best friend, realization falling over her. "Well that answers my question" Gabby smirked.

"Gabby this is Maisy, Maisy this is my partner and best friend Gabriela Dawson." Gabby stretched her hand out to shake the young brunette in front of her. Maisy was tall with legs that seem to continue on for a very long time, she'd got long wavy brown hair and deep brown eyes to match, she looked almost like a model straight out of vogue.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you" Gabby said, "Shay's told me loads about you, come on, come join us." she winked at Shay as she directed Maisy into the booth her and the guys were occupying. "Everyone this is Shay's friend Maisy." Everyone said hello and shook her hand, inviting her immediately into the conversation. Shay grabbed some drinks and joined them.

The night was pleasant and a welcome break to the dark cloud Matt and Gabby had been trying to escape from, Gabby told Matt they needed to talk about something regarding Dr Charles but said it wasn't important and they could discuss it in the morning if he'd prefer. He told her he didn't mind, but Molly's probably wasn't the best place to have a discussion like that so agreed maybe the morning would be a better option. Matt watched Gabby chat and laugh, and dance with their friends all evening his heart swelling with pride over how she was handling everything, anyone looking in at them wouldn't have ever been able to guess what had been going on in the young couples life recently.

As midnight rolled closer Gabby said she was tired and ready to call it a night, Matt told Hermann he'd collect the truck in the morning and ordered them a uber. Getting to the front door he was shocked when Gabby pushed him up against the wall and pressed her body against his.

"I'm not wearing any panties" she whispered pulling them out of her purse as proof. She felt his need for her press against her leg as he slapped her ass and ordered her upstairs.

"Yes sir" she giggled, wiggling her her bottom at him as she walked in the direction of their apartment.