"Hey Kelly", Matt said as he exited his truck.
"Hey" Kelly greeted holding up a case of beer, "I thought maybe we could enjoy a few while we worked?"
Casey shook his head in amusement at his friend "You go ahead, but ten am is far too early me."
"Suit yourself"
Matt had just arrived at their new house, the truck loaded up with the new windows and frames he'd just collected from the warehouse he used down town. Having connections in the business was really going to help him keep the cost of the renovations down, something he knew had been playing on Gabby's mind recently, despite his insistence that they would be fine financially. He'd walked into the apartment the evening previous to find her looking through their bills and bank statements, saying she was trying to see where they needed to cut back. His assurances going over her head when she insisted she didn't want him breaking his back to make sure they had a slush fund.
"No Gabby?" Kelly asked, looking around the truck.
"No she's been up half the night. Between the farewell partner party Shay threw her last night meaning we didn't get into much later than she's used to recently, the babies were using her bladder as a trampoline most of the night. And she's not feeling brilliant this morning. "
"She ok?" Severide asked aware that it must be bad for it to keep her from being here with them right now, the man knowing just how excited and impatient Gabby was about getting the house sorted and them moved in.
"Yeah, just morning sickness seems to have reappeared and she's struggling slightly with it. She'll be ok, I left her to go back to sleep but she said she might pop in later if she's feeling better."
Kelly nodding in understanding, he'd seen how bad her morning sickness had been in the early days and he knew how much it took out of her. The paramedic had tried to continue as normal but when you spend twenty four hours a day with someone three times a week you can tell when they are putting on a brave face for everyone else's benefit. "I hope she feels better."
"Me too." Matt said turning his attention to the windows, "Right are you ready to get started?"
"Let's do this" Severide said placing the beer on the top step, as Matt unlocked the door.
The two men worked tirelessly throughout the morning removing all the old windows and frames and getting them into Casey's truck ready for him to take and dispose of, by lunchtime the front two windows were secured into place. Matt satisfied with the pace they were working at and happy to see the transformations progressing in a positive way. It didn't look much different the new windows and frames being the same style as the old ones but although they didn't look much different they defiantly were. The old ones being singled glazed, where the new ones were triple. The frames being much sturdier and the windows themselves having the all important safety catches on them to guarantee their children wouldn't be able to open them to an unsafe distance.
Matt was admiring their handy work as Kelly cracked open another beer, the man having made his way through a couple during their morning together. "Hey" her soft voice broke through into his mind, Matt looking up to see her stood in the doorway a soft smile resting on her face as she watched him.
"Hey" he said, a wide grin spreading across his own face, "what are you doing here?"
"Thought you might need some lunch?" she said holding up a grocery bag, "and I called in some reinforcements" she nodded her head behind her, Shay, Stella and Hermann all standing behind his wife.
"Hey guys, you didn't have to do this?"
"Nonsense" Hermann said entering the property, "we wanted to, plus Dawson here said there was lunch and beer involved." Matt chuckling as they all moved inside further, the men walking off to start work on the next window, while the woman made their way into the kitchen, Gabby pulling out some pots and pans from the bags they were carrying and getting started on their lunch. Before long the house was filled with sounds of the friends chatter and smells of Dawson's Chilli. Everyone happy to be together and happy to be able to help in their own little ways.
"So have you both decided on how to decorate the nursery yet?" Shay asked, chopping the salad to go alongside their meal.
"Matt just kinda gave me free rein" Gabby said turning to face Stella who'd just let out a huge belly laugh. "What?" She questioned raising her eyebrow at her friend.
"Did he let you have free rein or did you beat him down into what you wanted?"
"Firstly I never beat the good old Captain down about anything, he just loves me too much. And secondly yes he said he didn't mind and whatever I wanted was fine."
The three woman laughing together as Dawson went on to describe the way she wanted the room sorted. "We're planning on going shopping for the furniture after next shift, and then we're going to need help setting up?" The friends nodding in acceptance to them being there, "but today I want to start sorting the walls out. Get the paint done before we get the furniture delivered if possible. Less chance of anyone.." Gabby's eyes darted to the back of her husbands head "getting any paint on it." Stirring the chilli once more she said "right I think this is ready to go, Stella can you grab the dishes outta that bag please?"
Stella obliged at once placing them down on the side as Gabby lifted the pot of chilli and the pan of rice on to the counter top ready for everyone to serve themselves. "Guys food" she shouted across the house, smirking as she heard the dropping of tools and hurry of boots of the ground.
Once everyone was served up they moved towards the front room, all of them perching on the floor expect Gabby who said she'd never get back up if she joined them, opting for the stairs instead. The conversation around the room was light and easy, as Matt directed the guys to what needed to be done next and Gabby started making plans with the girls about how to get the nursery started. Before long they were all supporting full bellies and ready to get back to work. Matt offered to wash up, Gabby brushing him off telling him he needed to get back to work as she wasn't happy leaving the house with only half the windows in.
"Connie where do these go?" Dawson asked as she carried a pile of paperwork through the ballpen.
"Oh those, they go in the blue office" Connie answered seeing the pile of red in the younger woman's arms. "You ok carrying that?"
"Yea, I'm good" Gabby responded changing her path towards the blue office, that had become the storage space for almost all of their action reports. Dawson desperate to get some form of organisation going in the room. "If you need me I'll be under a pile of un-organisation" She laughed, Connie chuckling alongside her.
"You got it."
Gabby sat down on the floor and started working her way through the case files, wanting to get them all into date order and categorized properly. The paramedic hating how disorganised the room was and wondering how they ever found anything in there. But she knew the answer to that, this room apart from being a storage space was rarely entered by anyone at fifty one. Most of them remembering details of every incident they'd ever been to.
The house was pretty quiet at the moment everyone having been called out not long before, Gabby having to stop herself from rushing out to ambo alongside them, the pregnant paramedic momentarily forgetting that she was no longer cleared for full duty. Since they'd been gone she'd taken to keeping herself busy doing anything she could think of. The not knowing what was happening at the scene making her nerves sky rocket. All she could do was hope that they all came back to the house unscathed. And although she knew that it was rare one of them got injured it wasn't unheard of, and unfortunately fifty one had seen their fair share of calls going wrong. Almost all of them having several trips a year to the hospital for one thing or another, thankfully most of the injuries had been superficial of late but that didn't stop her worrying. Matt being out there without her worried her, she knew that it was for the safety of her and the babies that she'd had to step back but that didn't mean she liked it and it certainly didn't calm her nerves.
Trying to refocus her attention to the organizing of the files, she pushed all thoughts of what could be happening at the call out of her mind, settling to focus on the pile of paperwork sacked in front of her. The brunette making quick work of sorting through the first pile, making sure each report was in the right box and labelled correctly.
"Ouch" she said out loud as a kick hit her belly, "I guess you two are awake in there hey," she said holding her belly. "You're daddy's out on a call at the minute, so mummy's just trying to sort paperwork out. But tomorrow is a big day little ones, tomorrow is the day mummy and daddy are going to start moving into our new house, now daddy and Uncle Kelly have finally finished the kitchen, and the windows, it's ready for us." It had been just over a week since they started the renovations at the house, Casey and Severide working pretty much flat out with the occasional help from the rest of the guys from the house, and although the kitchen wasn't completely finished it was finished enough to function and for them to start moving in. "It's perfect, lots of room for you two to play and grow up. And when you get bigger you can both have your own bedrooms, but you're going to have to share for a little while ok?" She felt another sharp kick "you really have a good kick on you don't you little one? You going to be playing soccer with your daddy and uncle Kelly before I know it." She spent the next fifteen minutes having a conversation with her belly completely lost in the movements and kicks her babies were giving her, it wasn't until she heard a noise that she looked up. Her eyes landed on Connie stood in the doorway a soft grin resting on her lips.
"Hey, sorry I didn't mean to interrupt but your brothers here."
"Oh ok," she said looking around her, now she'd thought about it more she wasn't sure how she was going to get back up off the ground, looking towards Connie she said "erm could you, erm help me up?"
"Sure" the older woman said walking towards her and holding her hands out, Gabby grasping them tightly as she pulled herself from the ground.
"Thanks." she said grinning at her before walking out towards the apparatus floor. "Antonio" she called as he came into view.
"Hey sis"
"You ok?"
"Erm yeah I was just wondering, erm I know you're working but could you watch Eva for me please?"
Gabby's eyebrows furrowed it was the middle of the week and her niece most defiantly should be at school, "yea no worries" she responded almost immediately "but erm, shouldn't she be at school."
Antonio nodded, a look flashing across his face Gabby insistently recognized as annoyance, "She's been suspended."
"What?" the younger Dawson gasped, "Why?"
"I'll let her tell you, but no phone and no laptop ok. She's got work to do but I'm in the middle of a case I can't leave and Laura is outta town for the week Sorry sis, I have no where else to take her, and I can't leave her at home because I know she'll ignore my instructions. I would ask mum and dad but well you know.."
"Tonio it's fine, I'll watch her and trust me she'll not be doing anything else but her school work."
"Thanks sis" he said placing a kiss to her head before turning back to his car waving Eva over, the young girl getting out and walking towards her father and aunt.
"Hey Aunt Gabby" she said a small smile on her face. A smile that was met by a harsh glare from her Aunt.
"Go and get set up in Matt's office Eva, I'll be there in a moment." Gabby said strongly, her gaze never faltering. Eva silently passing them and heading for the double doors leading into the firehouse.
"Eva" Antonio said before she'd got very far, "hand it over."
"What?" she said trying to keep her face blank.
"Your phone?" he said raising his eyebrow, "I know you've just taken it out of the glove box. Hand it over now!"
Stomping back toward her father Eva placed her phone into his outstretched hand, glaring at him before stomping back off towards the door.
"I'm sorry sis, I know you have enough to worry about without dealing with a stroppy teenager."
"It's fine!" she said again, "go I've got her."
"Thanks again" he said before kissing her head and heading back out.
Gabby sighed as she mentally prepared herself for the conversation she was about to have, knowing that Eva had been going down a dangerous path for the best part of a year now and maybe it was time she stepped in. No more understanding Aunt, she needed to make her see the error of her ways. She knew Antonio could deal with it, but if her niece was spending the day with her then she wasn't going to make it all fun and games, and once she'd finished her school work Gabby was certain there were jobs at the firehouse that she could find for her to do. But first she wanted to talk to her and find out exactly what had happened to get her suspended. Her thoughts were interrupted by the unmistakable sound of the trucks pulling back in, Gabby hanging around near the door long enough to see her husband jump down, signalling to him that they needed to talk before walking in to the firehouse.
Matt shrugged off his gear, hanging his turnout coat on the wing mirror before heading in the direction his wife just had, quickly finding her stood outside the bunk room. "You ok?" he asked when he saw the look on her face.
"Yeah, we have Eva for the day."
"What? Why isn't she at school?" Matt asked, the same thoughts running through his head that Gabby had when Antonio had told her.
"She got suspended, Antonio is on a case and Laura's outta town. He asked if I'd watch her."
"Suspended" Matt said his head catching up with what she'd just told him.
"Yea, I don't know why." She said quickly knowing that was going to be his next question, "all I know is that she's been suspended, I sent her to your office, I hope you don't mind." Matt shrugged, he had no problem with his niece being in his office. "I didn't want her around everyone when she's in trouble, Antonio took her phone off her, but he made it clear that she isn't to view her time here as a fun time. So keeping her in there will make sure she does her school work, and once she's done I thought maybe we could find something for her to do. Something not so fun."
"I can certainly find some stuff for her to do" He responded seeing the disappointment shining in his wife's eyes. "You ok?"
"Yeah, just this has been going on for a year now."
"I know"
"I'm going to go speak with her." Gabby said, Matt grabbing her wrist gently before she move away, wrapping his arms tightly around her shoulders.
"Do you want me to come with you?" he asked into her head.
"No, not yet. Let me speak with her and see whats going on before you go all tough Uncle Matt on her." she chuckled. Matt smiling back at her, it wasn't often he stepped in with his nieces and nephew but the one time he had with their other niece Violet, Gabby had seen first hand just how firm he could be with them. He loved them dearly and would do anything to protect them even if that meant chewing them a new one when the situation asked for it. Gabby wasn't sure if they were there yet but she knew Eva was not going to enjoy whatever he had planned for her later. The tough Captain always creative with punishments, especially when it came to making sure offences weren't repeated.
"Ok, well just let me know. I'll make sure the guys all know she isn't to have fun this afternoon."
Gabby nodded moving towards the door to the bunk room, seeing her niece sitting at Matt's desk her head hung down in her hands. Dawson's heart ached for her, every instinct in her telling her that maybe she just needed a shoulder and some one to listen, but also aware that a suspension was much, much worse than the multiple detentions the young girl had received over the past year. She knew why Antonio had asked her to watch her, it wasn't so much that their parents, well their dad especially would have made his thoughts be known on how to deal with this but more so that Eva and Gabby were almost identical in personality and if anyone was going to get through to her it was her Aunt.
"Hey"
Eva lifted her head as she heard the door open, along the sound of her aunts voice. "Hi" she said softly.
"Wanna tell me what happened?" Dawson asked moving further into the room, resting up against the desk facing her niece.
"It wasn't my fault" Eva said, her voice rough, tears brimming at the edges of her eyes. "She just keeps going on and on at me, I'd had enough. It's not my fault she ducked and it hit the coach."
"Ok back up" Gabby said sensing there was a lot more to this suspension than one incident. "What's been happening?"
Eva sighed deeply, looking at her Aunt. "Are you going to listen, or are you going to do what dad did and hear one half of the story before yelling?"
"I'm not yelling am I?"
"Not yet, but you will when you hear what I did."
"Try me?"
The young girl shrugged, figuring she had nothing more to lose than she already had, "A few weeks ago I got into it with one of the cheer captains, she's been on my back ever since I got my grades back up and got back on the team. She just seems to have it out for me, she's been saying little things, and picking at everything I do. Last week we were practicing this new stunt routine and she just kept making me do it again and again, even when the others said I was doing it fine she kept picking at me, until I had a go back. Coach didn't see her do anything or say anything so I got in trouble for it and because I was annoyed I kinda shouted at the coach earning me a detention."
"Eva" Gabby said, "It doesn't matter how mad you are you can't go around shouting at the teachers."
"I know, Dad was pissed at that to. He grounded me for the weekend, and I had to miss this huge valentines party I was supposed to be going to. It sucked." Gabby gave her a sympathetic look, she knew first hand how much it stung to know you were missing out on a social event because you were being punished, but she didn't blame Antonio, if she had been in that position the response would have been the same. "So I was even more pissed at her, because not only had she got me into trouble at school but more trouble at home. Which is something that's been happening a lot, I've been grounded more weekends then not." Gabby could see the young girls distress and as much as she felt for her, she wasn't about to start relenting now. This was serious, getting suspended was something that would follow her niece throughout her school career, something that would now be in her permanent record, something that could affect her college choices and potentially any job application she made.
"What happened today?" Gabby asked after a few minutes of silence.
"She started again in gym, she just kept pushing and pushing so I threw a ball at her but she ducked and it hit coach full pelt in the face."
Gabby gasped at the information she'd just got, although Eva's intention hadn't been to hit or hurt her coach, if it hit full pelt she could only imagine the damage it would have done if it had made it's target. "Eva, how hard did you throw it."
"I don't know" she said shrugging her shoulders, "I wanted to hurt her."
"EVA MARIE DAWSON!" Gabby yelled, the words rolling out of her nieces mouth, along with the shrugging of her shoulders pushing her patience over the edge. Eva's eyes snapping up at the sound of her aunts voice. "I don't ever want to hear you say you wanted to hurt someone ever again, do you understand me?"
"Yes mam"
"I mean it young lady" she said firmly standing up straight as she started to lecture her niece, "I don't care if she's been bothering you, if someone is bothering you, you tell someone. You do NOT throw something at them in the hope of hurting them, especially not at someones head. Come on Eva I know you, and I know you know what kinda of damage you could have caused. Don't you?"
"Yes but I.."
"No Eva! I don't care what you think you can say that's going to make this any better. Does your dad know what you did?"
"Yea."
"And?"
"What?" Eva said crossing her arms across her chest.
"What did he say?"
The younger Dawson sighed remembering the conversation, well more the lecture she'd had when her dad got her from school and drove her here. "He said, he.." From the reaction her niece was giving her and the stumbling over her words Gabby had a good idea of exactly what her brother had said but she wanted to hear it from her mouth.
"He what?"
"He told me that this was my last chance, next time he'd take a leaf out of Abeulo's book and he said..." she diverted her eyes finding the whole subject embarrassing, "he said if I ever hit someone or throw something at someone again, his belt would have a conversation with my butt that I certainly wouldn't forget." She fell silent, her words hanging in the air around them. As much as it shocked Gabby to hear Antonio had threaten his daughter with a lesson from his belt, she couldn't say she was surprised he was at that point. Eva had been pushing and pushing for the past year and they were all getting to the point of beyond frustration with her. "You.. you don't think he's serious do you?"
Gabby's eyes flicked up to her nieces face seeing the clear fear in her eyes. "Unfortunately I think he is sweetheart. As much as I hate it and I'm sure he does, you've not left him much room for anything else. I'd suggest you try and learn your lesson this time, so you don't find out if he's serious or not. Because trust me if he's anything like Abeulo he is deadly serious and he will do whatever he has to, to keep you on the straight and narrow."
Silence fell in the small office once more as Eva digested everything her aunt had just said, the young girl knowing she'd really messed up and the only way to fix it was to fix her behaviour. Something was bugging her though, and she wasn't sure if now was the time to get into it, but her curiosity had been increasing for a little while. Ever since she heard her dad and grandfather arguing at Christmas about how her dad was dealing with her.
"Aunt Gabby"
"Yea?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what is it?"
The younger girl took a moment to collect her thoughts, trying to think of the best way to approach the subject. "Did, erm, when you were younger did Abeulo do it to you?"
Gabby smirked slightly at the nervous way her niece had approached the subject.
"It's just at Christmas I overheard dad and Abeulo arguing about me. Abeulo said something about only having to use his belt on you once and that was the last time it ever got that far, that the threat was enough after that."
"Ah I see." Dawson said nodding, "in answer to your question yes. Abeulo was very firm in his discipline of both your dad and I, and yes he did use his belt on me once. He spanked me a lot, I mean I was a bit like you have been the past year, and his way of dealing with it was to take me over his knee and beat my butt with his hand but it came to ahead over me running away. And I'm not sure if it was the circumstances or the belt itself but it was the only time."
"Did it hurt?"
"Oh yes, it hurt a lot. It hurt when he was whacking it against my backside and for almost two weeks afterwards. So trust me when I tell you that you best turn yourself around."
"I will Aunt Gabby, I promise. I'm sorry."
"I know kid, but actions speak louder than words, ok?" Eva nodded, Gabby pulling her in for a hug, "I love you kiddo."
"I love you too."
"Now I'd get that work done before your dad changes his mind on giving you another chance." She said smiling at her, moving towards the door. "Oh and Eva, don't be surprised if Uncle Matt has something to add to what I've just said."
The younger girl nodded, moving her attention back to her work as her Aunt left the office going in hunt of her husband and some lunch.
The morning started off normally, Gabby working around the house, unpacking the last few boxes they'd already moved over and taking deliveries. Matt has popped out to get them some breakfast and Shay, Stella and Kelly were arriving soon so that they could help set up the babies nursery. Gabby finally finishing decorating the way she wanted and Matt having ordered the cribs. It was as she was setting the coffee machine to go that she felt it, a sharp stabbing pain that went almost as quickly as it came. She gasped in pain, gripping the counter before quickly recovering. Deciding she'd probably been doing too much, moving through to the lounge and sitting down on the new couches. It was there that Matt found her half an hour later, curled up asleep, a now cold cup of coffee sitting on the coffee table beside her.
Kissing the side of her head gently, he smiled at the sight. She'd been working really hard the past few days and it looked like it was finally catching up with her.
"Hey" she said sleepily looking at him, "was I asleep?"
"Yea, you ok?"
"Yea just had some stretching pains earlier, I'll be ok."
Matt raised his eyebrows at her "you sure? I can call the guys and say we'll do this another day."
"No, no I'll be ok. I just need to take it a little easier today. Between the days of painting, and working shift yesterday I think I've overdone it a little."
"Good job we're here to help then!" Stella said poking her head round the door.
Matt jumped at the sound of her voice, all of them laughing at his reaction.
"Sorry Casey didn't mean to scare you." She teased moving further into the house.
"I see you brought breakfast" Kelly said indicating towards the bag still in Matt's hand.
"Yea I did, but you're going having to earn some." He said handing the bag to Gabby. "Come on I need a hand unloading the rest of the furniture from the truck."
Kelly groaned as the girls sat down joining Gabby in unpacking the breakfast Casey had provided.
"You sure you're feeling ok?" Shay asked taking in the pale colour of her friends face, "you don't look brilliant."
"I'm fine Shay" Gabby said pulling out her bagel and tucking in "like I say I've just got to take it easy today and get something to eat."
"Ok, but you let us do most of the work today ok?"
"Yes mam" Gabby said saulting her friends. Everyone settling down to eat before they began their long day. Dawson was beginning to get impatient about the move and had expressed her wishes to be in before their next shift, saying it would easier then living between two properties and it would mean they could finish the sale of their apartment in the process. Something that would help them finically, the purchases for the babies setting them back far more than they ever thought possible.
"Kelly!" Matt's voice came from upstairs, the girls conversation intruppted as they looked up to find Severide tucking into his own breakfast.
"What?" He shouted back.
"I thought you were getting the other crib out the truck?"
"I was but I'm starving man!"
Everyone laughing loudly as the man took another bite of his bagel, a sheepish look resting on his face as he caught Gabby's glare.
"I'm coming ok?"
"Hurry up!" Matt shouted.
It took most of the morning, and a lot of Gabby directing people to jobs she needed doing but slowly the house began to look more and more like a home. The guys had managed to get both the cribs set up and in position, before they both headed back to the apartment to dismantle their bed and transport it over to the house. Gabby setting up in the kitchen to get some lunch sorted while Stella and Shay helped. The three woman moving around the kitchen seemisly.
"Ouch" Gabby she leaning over the counter, the paramedic holding on to her side as she battled cramps again.
"Dawson?" Shay said appearing at her side quicker than a flash.
"I'm fine" Gabby said standing back up, "it was just cramp, I'm good."
"You sure" Stella asked moving a dining chair into the kitchen and making her sit down.
"I'm good guys, I'm just nineteen weeks pregnant." Her tone sharp was filled with frustration.
"Gabs there's nothing wrong with you not being able to stand and make lunch."
"I'm fine" she spat pushing herself up from the chair and heading back to her previous work space. Both her friends watching her closely but neither one of them daring to say another word. Over the past few days Gabby's temper had be very up and down, her hormones playing havoc with her emotions, meaning the PIC was either inconsolable in tears, snapping at everyone or overly happy. Unfortunately for those around her, no one ever knew which version of Gabby they were going to get, and with her experience more and more aches and pains the further she got into the pregnancy her temper had been increasingly touchy. Everyone around her could see she was struggling but in true Dawson style she would back down, resulting in many arguments between herself and her friends and Matt. The latter trying his hardest to be understanding with her and patient, knowing that despite her sullenness it wasn't meant for or directed solely at him. But however understanding they all were it was still difficult for them to watch her flip so easily and it was even harder when she wouldn't admit she was struggling.
A loud bang startled Matt as he placed the dinner in the oven, the blonde running up the stairs two at a time, in search of the cause of the sound. "Gabby" he shouted looking into their bedroom as he passed, heading towards the babies room.
"Gabby" he shouted again as he moved through the hallway, finally stopping outside the main bathroom, the door was a jar but something was stopping it from opening. Matt edging it open as far as he could, the small gap allowing him to see her curled up on the floor. "Gabby" he said again panic filling his body. She wasn't moving and wasn't responding to him, Matt knowing he had to get in the bathroom one way or another, and forcing the door open could potentially cause injury to his wife and unborn children.
He knew it had been a long day, their friends staying with them up until maybe an hour ago, Matt telling her to go and have a bath while he threw some dinner about. And with Gabby have some discomfort earlier on in the day he though a bath might have been good for her but now he wasn't so sure. Trying to think quickly and clearly he moved back towards the nursery retrieving his tool box while calling Shay.
"Matt?" Shay said the minute she answered confusion evident in her voice.
"Shay can you get back here please?" He said beginning to unscrew the hinges on the bathroom door.
"What's wrong?"
"It's Gabby, she's collapsed in the bathroom. I need help."
"I'm on my way" she said quickly, Matt hearing her pick up her keys as she moved, "Matt call an ambulance."
"Ok, just hurry."
He hung up from Shay and immediately dailed 911, explaining to the operator that his wife was nineteen weeks pregnant and had collapsed. How he was trying to get in the room to her, and answering any of the dispatches questions, all while being reassured that they were on their way. He heard the front door go before he heard multiple boots on the floor Shay, Kelly and Stella all rounding the corner as he took the final hinge out carefully moving the door out of the way.
His first look at his wife was shocking, Gabby lying on the ground a huge gash to the side of her face where he could only assume she'd hit the sink on her way down. Her towel wrapped around her body.
"Shay can you get me her robe and some clothes please." Matt asked as he knelt down by her head. "Gabby, baby open your eyes."
"Matt look!" Kelly said, fear spreading across his face, Casey following his gaze to the pool of blood spreading around Gabby's thighs.