I've managed to find a lot of time to write the past few days, the story flowing from me easily. So you guys are in for a fair few chapters, buckle in it's a bumpy ride.
Dawson walked down the hallways of a near deserted fifty one, the woman heading in the direction of the common room. The babies telling her not long ago they were hungry by kicking her repeatedly in the ribs, the former PIC telling Connie she was going to take a short break, something the older woman had readily agreed. Ever since her trip to the hospital two weeks ago, and her return to the house last shift, everyone had done everything and anything to help her out. She was almost positive Matt had something to do with it, her husband having returned to work a shift before her. The couple having discussed at length their return to work, Gabby and Matt sitting down almost as soon as they had got home from the hospital to talk, however where her husband had thought the conversation was going wasn't where it went. Casey wanting to talk about what they'd just learnt earlier that day, but she shut him down, telling him she wasn't ready yet but they needed to discuss him going back to work. The topic had caught him off guard, eighty one's captain had been assuming that he would stay off until she was ready to return but according to Gabby that wasn't a viable option and they needed to get back to some normality, especially as they were bound to have some hefty hospital bills to deal with soon. And as much as he wanted to argue with her about it, he knew she wasn't wrong. The hospital bill from Gabby's stay alone was going to put them back a fair bit, despite their decent insurance he knew it wouldn't cover it all and now knowing that their daughter was going to need surgery, undoubtedly landing them back in the hospital for long stays again the money was needed now more than ever. The couple already feeling the pinch from buying their new home before they'd completed the sale of their apartment.
"Hey" Shay said when she saw her walking through the double doors, the paramedics of sixty one being the only members of the house currently here.
"Hey" Gabby greeted, flashing Brett a smile as she walked towards the kitchen, "you guys doing ok?"
"We're good" Shay responded, following her best friend into the kitchen, "shouldn't we be asking you that though?"
Dawson raised her eyebrows, the pregnant lady crouching over to look in the fridge unable to stop her eye roll at the blondes question, "I'm fine Shay."
"Dawson?" The blonde whispered questionably.
"What? I'm fine Shay honestly, I'm dealing with it, both me and Matt are dealing with it." They'd made the decision to inform their family at fifty one about little Maddie's condition this morning, the first responders knowing that they needed to at least let their chief know as it was going to mean both of them taking time off once the babies were born, the one thing they had discussed was how Matt would be at home during their babies surgery. The man knowing his wife was going to need him even if she wouldn't admit it.
"Ok" her friend said pulling back slightly, Shay having been friends with Gabby for long enough to know when not to push an issue, "well I'm here if you need to talk, you know I'm here for anything. These babies are going to have their god mummy wrapped around their little fingers as soon as they are born, hell I think they already do. They are so loved by everyone here but I need their mummy to talk to me, or someone if she needs to alright. I love you all, you, Casey and those little squirts so much. Just know you two don't have to go through this alone. I'm here, we're all here."
"Thanks Shay, I mean it. But we're good at the moment I promise."
Their conversation was cut short as the bells rung out calling Ambo to assist with a car crash, the paramedics jogging out to the rig, leaving Gabby alone in the kitchen.
Casey jumped down from truck, the captain hanging up his turnout coat before heading in the direction of the ball pen. It had been a busy day for truck and squad, both companies being out all morning and most of the afternoon. The man wanting nothing more than to have five minutes of peace, to try and wind down a little before being called back out again, but he knew he needed to see Gabby first. As much as she had told him that she was fine to return to work, he still had some lingering doubts, the man knowing better than anyone how utterly exhausted his wife was pretty much all of the time these days and he was hoping he could convince her to come and have a lie down with him, knowing that they would both benefit from the time together. It had been nearly two weeks since the couple had learnt of their daughters condition and so far they hadn't really done more than step around the topic, neither one of them being ready to talk at the same time and neither one of them wanting to force the other into discussing it. So instead they had just been there for each other in the moments they had needed it. Although Matt was beginning to get more and more concerned about the fact that Gabby hadn't yet spoken to him or anyone about what they'd been told, the man quickly recognising the signs of her closing off to it. But regardless of how long it took, he'd let her come to him, the man knowing her well enough to know that he couldn't and wouldn't force her into speaking to him before she was ready.
"Hey Connie, is Gabby about?" he asked stepping towards the older ladies desk, his eyes scanning around the room.
"She went to get some food not long ago."
"Ok, thanks Connie." he said turning to walk away before stopping himself, slowly turning back towards her, "how's she been today?"
"She's ok Captain, she's a bit quiet but aside from that she seems to be ok."
"Thanks" he said again, giving her a firm nod before heading towards the common room in search of his wife. He soon found her sat in his chair at the head of the table, her focus on her phone while she picked at the bowl of fruit in front of her. "Hey" he said softly brushing his hand across her shoulders.
"Hey" she smiled back, smacking his hand away as he reached for her bowl, the sheepish look on his face making her heart beat quicken up slightly. The man beside here forever having that affect on her. "My food" she scolded gently. "I'm feeding your children."
"Ok, I'll get my own" he pouted, Dawson chuckling softly at him as she popped a strawberry in her mouth, the woman pulling his arm downwards as she transferred the piece of fruit into his mouth as she kissed him.
"Can you two get a room" Severide moaned as he passed them.
"We've got four actually" Gabby responded not missing a beat earning chuckles around the room from the various firemen relaxing down into their own spots across the common area.
Kelly scoffing as he settled himself in his chair to the left of them, "Don't I know it."
"Oh come on Kelly I thought you enjoyed helping Matt around the house."
"I do, but I didn't realize just how much work you" his eyes narrowing in on her as he spoke "were going to have me do. I swear I've never seen so much baby equipment in my life."
"Well we do have two of them Sev" Matt tried.
"Anyone would think you had a hundred the amount of stuff she's brought. I dread to think what your credit card bill is like."
Gabby gulping suddenly when she saw the look that flashed across her husbands face, the man obviously realizing he hadn't seen one in a while, his wife having been intercepting them ever since her shopping trip with Shay, knowing that if he saw the true amount she spent that day she was bound to be in big trouble.
"Yeah talking of which" he turned to face his wife, the man noticing the near panicked look in her eye, tilting his head to the side as he questioned her, "you did change the address on that didn't you?"
"Erm, yeah I did. I think." her small voice almost betraying her.
"Gabby?"
"Yeah?"
"Is there something you need to tell me?"
"No" she said almost immediately her quick response causing Matt's eyebrows to raise upwards, his eyes narrowing in on her as he tried to get a read on his wife. She was hiding something he could tell, but he didn't have a chance to question her any further when the bells went off alerting truck and engine to a house fire. Matt shaking his head as he walked away.
"We'll talk about this later."
Gabby nodding in response, the woman shrinking back into her seat, worry etched over her face.
"Want to share?" Kelly asked, her head snapping round to face him.
"What?"
"What it is you're hiding from the good old Captain?"
"Nothing" she responded quickly her eyes darting down towards her hands that she was twisting nervously in her lap.
"Dawson? Come on spit it out."
"I may have been hiding the statements for a little while." She admitted quietly, her voice so quiet only Severide heard, his face morphing into a shocked expression when her confession hit his ears.
"What?" his voice was loud, a little too loud for Gabby's liking the woman waving her hand about in an attempt to get him to lower his voice. "Why?"
"Well you remember when me and Shay went shopping?"
"I remember" he confirmed nodding his head.
"Well I may or may not have told him I only spent a few of hundred dollars, when in actual fact I spent more. I knew he'd be mad, so I figured if I hid the statements and paid it off myself he wouldn't realize and if he did,... when he did, I figured it would be paid off and it wouldn't matter anymore."
"Ok, so let me get this straight, you spent more than you should and decided lying about it too him and hiding it would work more in your favor than facing the consequences straight away? Have I got that right?"
"Well when you put it like that..."
"Gabby no matter what way you put it he's going to be mad. You know that don't you?"
Gabby nodded she knew he was right and she knew she had to tell him, but she figured if she could hold off for as long as possible it wouldn't be as bad, the woman figuring if she paid the most part of it off it may lessen the blow when she did tell him. She'd always planned on telling him eventually but now it would seem he was getting curious by himself, and because she hadn't been working the past couple of weeks she hadn't been able to get round to clearing it yet. Her only aim now was to make sure Kelly didn't drop her in it before she had a chance to come clean, the paramedic knowing it would be ten times worse if it came from anyone but her.
"I know, I'll tell him I promise. Just not today, I don't want to have to deal with it today please Kelly."
"Ok but Gabby, I'm not going to wait forever either you tell him soon or I will."
"I promise I'll tell him. In the next week I'll tell him I promise."
"Did you eat?" Matt said opening the fridge up noticing the lunch he'd made was still sat on the shelf he'd left it.
"No" Gabby said looking up from her computer. "I wasn't hungry, I'll just have a bigger dinner."
"Gabriela" Matt said firmly, "what is the rule about eating?"
"That I have three meals" she said rolling her eyes, "but babe, I can't eat if I'm not hungry, it makes me sick." She'd been experiencing nausea similar to the early morning sickness she'd experienced on and off for a few weeks now, ever since she'd finished working ambo, something that both of them were grateful for because it meant she wasn't battling through it to do her job on a daily basis. The doctor said it was normal for woman entering the third trimester to experience some and if it got unmanageable again she would prescribe the anti nausea tablets for her.
"One don't roll your eyes at me" he said crossing the room to stand in front of her, "and two don't give me the I felt sick card. You could have had something else, something lighter. That would have been better than skipping a meal."
"Whatever" she said rolling her eyes again, closing her computer as she pushed herself up from the table. Walking towards the stairs.
Matt took a deep breath, reminding himself she was pregnant and her hormones were crazy. "Gabriela, stop." When she continued to walk he raised his voice a little more. "Gabriela I said stop."
Turning round to face him, one hand on her hip the other holding her laptop, a defiant and challenging look on her face, "What?" She spat.
"Drop the attitude right now, you know you've broken our rules. And you know full well what that means."
"Whatever."
Matt strode towards her, taking the laptop from her hand and placing it back down on the table. "Go stand in the corner now!" He ordered pointing to the corner of the kitchen.
"Or what?" She decided to push.
"Or you're not going to like the consequences." He said firmly, glaring at her.
Gabby's attitude today had been horrendous, he'd noticed it when he spoke to her on the phone earlier but put it down to her being tired. She was twenty four weeks pregnant now and starting to really struggle with everything, the woman's bump having grown enormously over the few weeks since her hospital stay, the extra weight causing her body to ache constantly and she was spending a lot of time asleep or wanting to sleep. He'd let it slide earlier but he wasn't going to keep ignoring it. Especially when she knew she was in trouble already.
Gabby stared at him waiting to see what he would do, she knew she'd been pushing it with the way she'd spoken to him. And now she was regretting it, as she saw the anger flash across his face. "I'm sorry" she whispered all sense of defiance gone from her voice.
"Maybe you are, but not half as sorry as you're going to be after dinner. Take this seat, and sit in that corner until I've done us something to eat." He instructed pointing to the chair and the corner he'd indicated to earlier on.
"Yes sir" she said moving one of the dining chairs into the far corner of the room. Sitting down on it and sighing deeply to herself. She'd managed weeks of behaving herself. The last punishment being when she'd lied and kept the gun incident from him. And here she was sitting in the corner for the first time in the new house. Waiting for him to call her out and tell her what punishment she'd earn't herself. She knew she'd be getting thirty with the brush for not eating. But she wasn't sure how many he'd give her for the attitude and defiance, she just hoped he wouldn't make her do lines again. She'd absolutely hated them last time and her wrist had ached for days afterwards. Lines she had decided were worse than taking his hardest spanking.
She could hear Matt banging pots around the kitchen and wondered what it was he was attempting to make, and how long he was going to leave her sat here for. He wouldn't have told her to get a chair if he was only planning a short time.
Matt kept glancing towards his wife, trying to keep calm about her total disregard to everything they had agreed. He knew she was tired and frustrated, moving into the new house had taken them a lot longer than they had been expecting after her stint in hospital and although they had, had a lot of help from their family at the firehouse it had still been tough on Gabby. And on top of it she had insisted on staying at work for the full twenty four hour shifts, despite not needing to, meaning that in the two weeks since she'd been back at work there were three days out of seven that she wasn't even getting a full nights sleep.
Putting the potatoes on to boil he started prepping the fish he'd got on his way home after Gabby had informed him this morning that she really fancied some salmon. He had stopped by the store especially for it, hoping it would have been the start of a nice evening. Now their evening was going to play out a lot differently to what he had planned, instead of the relaxing massage he wanted to give his wife, he was going to light her backside up before she sat and wrote out 'I must eat three meals a day and speak to my husband respectfully,' and then he'd be sending her to bed early. Meaning he'd be left to entertain himself until he was tired enough for bed. He shook his head in disappointment just thinking about it.
"Gabriela come here" he spoke as he finished plating up their meal.
Gabby stood up and moved her chair back to the table, sitting opposite her husband, seeing the defeated and sad look on his face. "I'm sorry" she whispered.
Matt sighed placing his knife and fork down and looking up to her. "Gabriela, what on earth am I going to do with you? Hey?" He watched as her head dropped forwards in embarrassment, "look at me please." He said softly.
Gabby raised her head again, her eyes focusing on his, "you know better don't you?"
"Yes sir."
"So what do you think is going to happen now?"
"I'm going to be punished" she said sadly, Matt nodding in agreement with her answer, the same sad look on his face.
"Yup" he said popping the word, "and I'm sorry to say it's going to be a long hard session, not only did you not eat, you've had this defiant and sour attitude from the moment you woke up. I let it slide because I knew you were tired but the way you just spoke to me, the stomping off..." his words trailed off as he stared at her, knowing he didn't need to list all her infractions, she knew what she'd done and she damn well knew the consequences.
"Eat up" he instructed pointing to her untouched plate.
They ate in silence, Gabby trying hard not to cry, the tone her husband had used told her how disappointed he was in her behavior, he was right she did know better and she couldn't blame him for being mad. She knew it was pointless to try and explain herself, so instead she ate her food in silence, her mind racing, the woman willing time to go slow as she took tiny bites of the salmon she knew he'd got especially for her.
"You done?"
"Yes sir."
"Go to our room and wait for me I'll be up once I've cleaned up this lot."
"Yes sir" she said pushing her chair back and heading towards the stairs, the woman stopping momentarily to watch him as he worked his way around the dining table collecting up all their dirty dishes before heading towards the kitchen sink. Slowly she walked up the stairs, the woman's feet almost betraying her as she made her way across the upstairs landing and into their bedroom. She decided it would be wise to change for bed now as she was sure she'd be finding herself going there soon anyway, changing her path towards the bed and heading into the bathroom to get quickly washed up. She knew it wasn't what she'd been told to do but she didn't see the harm, it wasn't like she was defying orders or anything. Well not in her mind anyway.
Before long she had got washed and changed into one of Matt's shirts and a pair of her sleep shorts, the woman deciding against putting any underwear on as she was pretty certain it would be removed soon anyway. Once changed she sat down on the bed, twisting her hands nervously in her lap, he hadn't shouted, he hadn't got mad and he hadn't even scolded her, he had just informed her she was going to be punished and that made her nervous, his calmness made her nervous. If anything Matt being so calm meant that his punishment for her would hit home, when he was angry he held back slightly, ever since she had her breakdown about him being to hard on her, he had stopped himself from punishing her when mad, and if he had felt himself still holding on to the anger during a spanking he would dial it down, keeping himself in check as to not push past those barriers again. But when he was calm, he knew the limits and he was focused enough to make every single swat count, not that they didn't every time, but when he was calm and collected he knew exactly how and where to land those swats for maximum effect. The man making sure to pay close attention to the spots on her backside and thighs that would make sitting uncomfortable for the longest time.
She knew he had every right to be disappointed in her, hell she was disappointed in herself, after weeks and weeks of nothing but loving and calmness in the Casey household, she'd just blown it to hell. Sure she was tired, and sure the pregnancy was making her go a little crazy, especially as everyone at work was tiptoeing around her after her hospital stint. She hated that they were fussing so much, Gabby believing that there was absolutely no need for it, something that she had told them time and time again but they still fussed. Connie being the worst for it, the older woman checking in on her every half hour, and making her take long breaks. Not to mention the naps Matt all but ordered her to take during the day to make sure she wasn't over exerting herself. And ever since they'd told the house about little Maddie's condition it had been even worse. Literally everybody in the house asking if she was ok, a hundred times a day. Then today, today Matt informed her that Stella and Shay were coming round to sit with her while he was out at his construction gig. Gabby snapping at him that she didn't need to be babysat almost as soon as the words had left his lips, his persistent overbearing riling her more than it usually did, something she just put down to the hormones, but when Shay and Stella arrived later this morning with strict instructions about what she could and couldn't do she just got angrier, the brunette taking it out on Casey when he phoned to check in with her a little while later. And then when he got home, he had just kept fussing. Constantly asking where she was going if she got up off the couch, and making her tell him if she needed anything that he could get for her.
And now here she sat, her attitude and lack of respect for their simplest of rules having got her in trouble once more. The pregnant woman awaiting to hear her fate, all sense of the earlier defiance gone, instead nerves had filled that space and she was struggling to keep it together.
"Gabriela" Matt's voice hit her ears pulling her out of her thoughts, the man standing directly in front of her, his concerned gaze telling her it wasn't the first time he'd tried to get her attention. "Are you ok?"
"Yes sir" she nodded, pulling her bottom lip in between her teeth, her nerves radiating off her body in waves.
"You sure?" he asked sitting down next to her. "I tried to get your attention like three times, what's going on in there?" He pointed towards her head, gently tapping his finger against her temple.
"I'm just... I'm" she sighed deeply, causing the frown on his face to deepen. "I'm disappointed in myself, it's been forever since we got to this point. And here we are, you're mad and I'm about to get more than just a warm bottom. You're probably sick of this happening now"
Matt released his own sigh, gently pulling her chin towards him, "Look at me" he said firmly when her eyes had yet to meet his, "Yes I'm disappointed in your behavior today, and I'm mad about it but that doesn't mean I'm sick of it." He said using her own words back at her. "You know that, deep down you know that I'm never going to stop correcting you, that I'm never going to let you get away with that little display downstairs. Don't you?"
"Yes sir.."
"Ok then, so tell me, how many do I give you for skipping a meal?"
"Thirty sir," she spoke quietly, her voice so soft he had to strain to hear her, "With the brush?" she asked.
Matt nodded sadly, "I'm afraid so, I hate using it and I know you don't exactly enjoy it either, but that's why we do it isn't it?"
"Yes sir"
"Ok then, so thirty with the brush for that. What else did you do that you need correcting on?"
"I spoke to you disrespectfully, I stormed off, I disregarded a direct order and I rolled my eyes."
"Ok, so I think we will do thirty minutes with my hand, five for rolling your eyes, ten for storming off, five for the disregarding of an order and the last ten for the repeated disrespect you've had today. Does that sound fair?"
"Yes sir"
"Alright then, shorts off and lets get this over with."
Gabby moved slowly, the woman nervous for her first punishment in a while, she knew it was going to hurt, it always did. But half an hour with his hand, she just hoped he didn't spank at full whack the entire time. Matt watched her carefully as she pushed her shorts down, kicking them off and placing them on the chair. She wasn't sure how this was going to work, her bump being a major issue in going over his knee like she usually would, but apparently Matt had already thought about that.
"Bring the chair with you" he instructed once she'd turned back around.
Silently she moved the chair to the centre of the room, standing beside it and waiting for further instructions, she knew better than to speak without permission when she was about to be punished. Breaking that rule would only earn her extras with the dreaded brush.
"Bend over and grab the back" Casey ordered, standing up from his position on the bed. "You ready?"
"Yes sir" she replied, bending over like he'd instructed.
The minute the words left her mouth a flurry of spanks landed across the fleshy part of her buttocks, Matt working his way up and down each cheek, turning them both to a light pink colour with medium spanks. The woman's butt beginning to sting as he repeated the action over and over. It wasn't unbearable but it was certainly uncomfortable, Dawson regretting her behaviour more and more with each and every spank. The woman wishing more than anything she hadn't added to her issues by being stubborn and arguing with him. Her mind going blank as she focused on the intense burning sensation in her behind, trying her hardest not to wiggle or protest too much, the woman very aware that if she did it would only earn her a longer, harder spanking.
After fifteen minutes her butt was on fire, even the gentlest of swats making her cry out, Dawson having lost all sense of composure as she paid her penance. Matt was barely spanking her anymore, the man knowing that her pain levels were lessened because of the pregnancy hormones, his hand gently raising and falling repeatedly against her, the husband listening carefully to her reaction and watching her body's natural one.
Twenty minutes in and he stopped, the lack of contact confusing his wife. She was certain he hadn't spanked her for a full half an hour, the woman remaining in position until he told her otherwise.
"You can get up babe" he said softly, reaching round to help her.
"But..." She said her confusion only growing "but you're not finished?"
"I am" he said firmly "you've taken enough, you're butt wouldn't take the brush after that. Trust me you've received enough."
"I'm sorry" she whispered curling herself into his chest. Her husband quick to wrap his arms around her, and start her aftercare. He'd been planning on being harder on her but he couldn't, he didn't have the heart to be hard at the moment. Not when he knew a lot of what had happened today had been hormone related, instead he'd decided to give her a medium reminder of what would happen if she repeated her actions.
Gabby was relived that she didn't have to take the brush, she was, but something within her was missing it, missing the feel of having her butt lit up to the point she was begging for mercy. She couldn't say she wasn't happy when he said he'd finished, her butt burnt a lot and she was pretty sure it would remain that way for at least the next day or so but there was something about him stopping before she'd hit the limit that sparked confusing feelings within her. She knew he wanted to start her aftercare, his loving embrace that she was currently wrapped up in confirmation of as much, but she also knew if she didn't express her thoughts now it would spiral into more, it had done before and hadn't he told her that she wouldn't like it if she kept her feelings from him again. Sure that was before she was pregnant, almost a year ago now, but she was positive the threat still stood, pregnant or not and she wasn't about to test the theory not when she'd just got off pretty lightly.
"Matt?" She questioned, her watery eyes looking up at him from her position just under his chin.
"Yeah?"
"I don't feel like I've fully paid." She all but whispered.
"Why?" He murmured against her head, his chin resting on top of her.
"You didn't even get to the end of the hand spanking. And although it hurts, I mean it really hurts. I haven't been dealt with for not eating and that's what started all this."
"Gabby..."
"No Matt please let me finish, I knew what I was doing when I skipped lunch. I knew you'd know the minute you looked in the fridge and I knew what would follow... well obviously I didn't plan on back chatting, stomping off and everything else but I knew that I'd be punished for skipping a meal. I knew and I still did it. Part of me wanted you to come home and deal with me."
"Why?"
Gabby shrugged her shoulders, the woman not really knowing how to voice what was going on in her head properly. "I... I just did."
"Gabby what's going on?" Matt asked turning her round slightly so they were face to face.
"It's nothing really..." she began, Casey's face morphing from one of complete concern to a look that told her to quit lying. Sighing deeply she shrugged her shoulders again. Matt quickly standing her up and landing two sharp smacks against her throbbing behind, her hands quickly reaching back to protect herself.
"Move them!" He ordered, grabbing her wrists and pulling them out of the way. "Do I need to continue?" He asked with a raised brow, his hand hovering dangerously close to her crimson bottom. Gabby quickly shook her head. "Right then, I'll ask you again what's going on?"
"I'm not really sure, I just have this.. I don't even know how to describe it" she spoke honestly, settling herself back into her husbands lap, tucking her head under his chin, taking a moment to allow the sound of his beating heart to settle her. "It just ever since we found out about Maddie, part of me.. I don't really know.. when Dr Manning told us she thought the condition was genetic I couldn't help but think it's my fault." She finally managed to get out, her words coming out so fast Matt almost missed them, almost, but he didn't.
"Gabby" he breathed out after a few minutes, his voice catching in his own throat. "It's not your fault, you can't be certain that it has anything to do with your side of the genetics."
"But you can't be certain it's not" she argued.
Matt nodding against her "no, but I can be certain that it is no ones fault. And until the genetic tests come back we won't even know for sure if it is something genetic. It could just be that it was a fluke."
"Part of me knows though Matt, I can't describe it but part of me, it's like I have this gut feeling."
Matt nodded in understanding, he knew Gabby better than anyone, sometimes even better than she knew herself, and he knew that he could bet on some of her attitude and defiance came from her feeling guilty about this. And if he had to take a guess he'd say she'd been feeling this way for as long as they'd known.
They sat in silence for a few minutes both of them taking comfort from each other's embrace. Hearing that their daughter had a heart condition that would need surgery had shaken them both, neither one of them expecting anything like that when Dr Manning had returned to her room that day. And even though it had been a shock to both of them, it hadn't been something they'd spoken about since, Gabby all but shutting down emotionally. Despite his best efforts to get her to talk about it, she'd completely shut him down each time and apart from telling everyone at the house it hadn't been mentioned again. He knew he probably should have pushed a little harder to get her to open up about her feelings, but he also knew she needed time to gather herself, and process what they'd been told. But it had been four weeks since that day and she'd never once brought it up again, even when they went for the second fetal medicine scan, even when they'd been sent for some tests to determine if it was something genetic. She'd never said a word. And now it would seem like those feelings, those emotions she had pushed to the side were hitting her full force and even though he couldn't blame her for feeling the way she did, he did wish she'd spoken to him instead of acting out and them now being here again. It was something he'd never really understood when it came to her, why she wouldn't accept people's help willingly, why she had to try and do everything and deal with everything by herself. Why she couldn't allow herself to be completely reliant on other people, even when those people had her best interests at heart.
Gabby shuffling in his lap snapped him out of his head, the man tightening his grip on her as she nuzzled herself deeper into his neck. His wife clearly needing his comfort, the silence surrounding them suffocating.
"You ok?" He asked gently, when she'd finally made herself comfortable.
"Not really" she answered honestly, "I just, I don't understand why this is happening, why us? Why our baby?"
"I don't know baby, but I know no matter what we will get through this, like we get through everything. Together. We will get through the together."
"I love you" she said a small smile tugging at her lips, Matts handing rubbing comforting patterns on her back. "You're such an amazing man Matt Casey, I don't think I've ever met a kinder, more decent man. And I love you."
"I love you too" he said kissing the top of her head gently, "now how about we get some cream on that butt and go watch a movie or something?"
Gabby looked up at him the confused look on her face causing him to chuckle.
"What?" He questioned when she'd yet to say anything.
"Nothing I just assumed, well under our rules... shouldn't I be going to bed?"
"Technically yes, but then if you want to go by those rules I should be marching you to the kitchen table to sit your sore behind down and write me five hundred lines." His small smile turning into a more challenging smirk, "so do you want to go by the rules, or do you want to just listen to what I tell you? Because I don't mind either way."
"Ok, I get the point." She said, her tone causing his face to morph back into the serious disciplinarian he was. "Sorry" she quickly added, adjusting her sarcastic tone, knowing she was still treading a very thin line with his patience with her attitude.
"Go get dressed before I change my mind." He said firmly, landing a single slap to her ass as she got up. The action making her quicken up her steps as she hurried back to the bathroom to wash her tear stained face.
Gabby stood under the stream of water her tense body relaxing more and more as the warmth filled her body. It had been a long day, after a emotional night, Matt and her sitting for well over three hours discussing everything they'd been avoiding, Dawson finally letting him in on everything that had been swirling round her head for the past four weeks. The woman letting out every painful thought and feeling that had plagued her. And then this morning they got the phone call they'd been waiting for, Dr Manning telling them she had the results of the genetic testing for them and asking if they could come in. There visit lasting a lot longer than they were expecting, and being a lot more emotional draining than either of them had imaged. Gabby asking all the questions she had, the woman finally able to allow herself to discuss the topic, despite how much it hurt. Matt allowing to take as much time as she needed to talk it through with their doctor, the three of them all shedding a few tears during their time together. It had been well after lunch before they had finally emerged from the hospital, Matt driving them to a local cafe where they grab some lunch before heading to their old apartment, the couple signing the final paperwork of the closing of the sale today.
They were supposed to be heading out tonight, everyone gathering at Molly's for a get together. Matt knowing that it would do his wife some good to get out and about had insisted they taken a nap when they finally got home, the two's nap quickly turning into something much more fun and energetic, leading to not much sleeping taking place. So now she stood here, in the shower, her body screaming at her how tired it was and Gabby fighting it with everything in her. Even if they didn't stay the night, she wanted to at least show her face. She knew once the babies came their wouldn't be much time for socializing at least for the first few years and she was more than ready to have some fun with her friends.
"You almost done?" Matt asked pulling the shower door open, the cold air hitting her body as it swept in through the open door.
"Yeah, I'm done."
"Come on then, we don't want to be late."
Gabby raised an eyebrow at his comment, the woman confused as to what they could possibly be late for. "What for?" she questioned switching the water off and reaching for her towel, "I thought we were just going to Molly's."
"We are" he said his slightly guilty look making her think otherwise.
"Matt what's going on?"
"Nothing." he said, shaking his head, "I just told Shay we'd be there at six, and we're going to be pushing it now."
"Why does it matter though? It's not like.. wait a minute. Matt?"
"Yes?"
"Is there something you want to tell me about tonight?"
Casey shook his head, the man desperately trying to salvage the situation, knowing full well that Shay would kill him if she sussed it out before they got there.
"mmmm" she said, walking past him with a knowing look. "Give me ten minutes, twenty tops."
"I'll text Shay" Matt said, leaving the room quickly.
"So come on then, how long has she been organizing this?" Gabby asked as they pulled up outside Molly's, the couple being slightly later than originally planned, Matt having text Shay as they left the house telling her they were just leaving.
"What?"
"You think I don't know what this is Matt" her faced covered in an amused look, his reaction giving her the confirmation she needed. "That this is a baby shower? You think I didn't work that out when you and Shay kept whispering in the corner every five minutes, come on babe I'm not that naive."
"At least act surprised when we go in, Shay will kill me if she knows you knew."
Gabby laughed as she pushed her door open, Matt locking up the truck and taking her hand as they crossed the street, the man pleading with his wife to act surprised when they entered the building in front of him, before pushing the door open and letting her walk in before him.
"Surprise" came the chorus of voices around the room.
"Oh guys, you didn't have to do all this" Gabby said, her face giving her away the second Shay's eyes rested on her. The blonde turning to the man stood behind her friend landing a sharp punch to his upper arm.
"Ouch! What was that for?"
"She knew" she said her voice full of question.
"She literally just told me she did, I swear I didn't say anything."
"I told you to leave him out of the plans Shay" Severide shouted from his spot at the bar, "He's a terrible liar and an even worse secret keeper."
"Hey!" Casey shouted back the man pretending to be offended, although they all knew there was more than a little bit of truth in his comment.
Before anyone could say anything else Shay dragged Gabby across the bar, the blonde placing a bright white sash across her friends body that read 'Mummy to be', before sitting her down at one of the booths, near the present table that seemed to be over flowing. Gabby completely over whelmed by the amount of effort everyone had put into the event for her. Dawson content to sit and watch everyone enjoying themselves. Throughout the night she was joined by several members of fifty one, even her brother and some of his team popped by, bringing with them even more presents. Gabby thanking them, while telling them they really didn't have to. It was in a quiet moment that Severide slipped in next to her, the man bringing with him a soda for her.
"You doing ok?"
"I'm good Kelly."
"You sure, Matt said you met with Dr Manning this morning. Everything good?"
"Yeah it's fine honestly, it was about what we were expecting to be honest."
"Ok." he said taking a sip of his drink, the two friends slipping into a lighter topic of conversation, Dawson thanking him again for his help with the shower, the woman knowing her best friend well enough to know that she would have dragged her house mate into the planning. "So have you told him yet?"
"Huh?" Gabby said her head snapping up at his words.
"Matt have you told him your little secret?" he clarified, the squad lieutenant holding a strong glare in his eye while he waited for her to respond. Her lengthy silence telling him all he needed to know. "Gabby?"
"No I haven't told him, there hasn't been a good moment to tell him, shift that day was busy, and then we've both been busy sorting the house out, and getting the apartment ready for the sale, I was planning on telling him yesterday but he was out at a construction gig, and then well we had to deal with something when he got home." Kelly nodding in understanding at the meaning behind her words, the friend thinking he'd seen her shuffling around on the bench slightly and there was only ever one explanation for that. "And then today has kinda been all over the place. But I'm going to tell him I swear."
"Tell me what?" Casey's voice hit her ears, the woman in front of him jumping at the sudden sound.
"Jesus Christ babe." Dawson exclaimed, clutching her chest tightly.
"Tell me what Gabby?" he asked again when she failed to answer his question.
"You know the conversation my first shift back? When you asked about the credit card statements?"
"Yes." Matt said his eyes bouncing backwards and forwards between his wife and best friend, the man knowing that he probably wasn't going to like where this was going.
"I... er..." her eyes darted to Kelly, the woman being met with a look of 'don't look at me for help', the man shrugging his shoulders at her.
"You said there hadn't been an opening, now there is. Tell him, or I will!" he said his voice firm.
"I've been hiding the statements." she admitted quietly, her head ducking down not able to bring herself to look at her husband. She knew he'd be mad, they had a rule about lying and hiding things. And she'd broken that rule by sneaking around behind his back, she knew she'd pay dearly for it once they got home, what she wasn't counting on was the gripping of her arm and pulling her towards the stock room. Dawson swallowing thickly as her husband pulled her through the room. Her gaze bouncing around as she saw a few people watch them suspiciously, Gabby seeing Shay making her way to a stunned Severide, who'd yet to catch up with what his eyes were seeing. The furious look in Matt's eyes telling him that whatever he was about to do was not something Dawson would want doing here at her baby shower.
"Explain now!" He demanded spinning her round to face him.
"I'm sorry."
"You will be, now why on earth have you been hiding our statements."
"You know when I went shopping with Shay?"
"Yes."
"Well I may have undersold how much I really spent. By a little bit... ok maybe a lot."
"Gabriela" he growled his tone telling her he needed to hear more before he could decide on what to do with the information.
"Well I told you I'd spent a few hundred, when In actually fact I spent closer to a grand." Her bottom lip fell between her teeth as she waited for him to respond, her nerves shot as the silence around them deafened her.
"We'll deal with this at home." He said finally, the mans face telling her all she needed to know about how much trouble she was in. "Enjoy the rest of your shower because this will be the last time you're socialising for a while."
"Yes sir" she whispered, knowing better than to argue with him.
The rest of their evening went by far too quickly for Gabby's liking, the woman absolutely exhausted by the time she was willing to call it quits. Matt enlisting the help of a few of the guys to load the gifts into his truck, while she did the rounds of saying goodnight to everyone, and thanking them all for coming. When she got to Shay the blonde held her tightly in her arms.
"You ok?" She whispered in her ear.
"Yea I'm good, whatever he gives me I deserve for keeping it from him. You said he'd find out and well you were right. Again."
"When are you going to learn I'm always right? But seriously, are you sure you're ok? He looked pretty pissed."
"Yeah he's pissed but I'll be ok. Although I'm certain I'm grounded so don't text me anything incriminating ok?"
The blonde laughing louder as she shook her head "of course not babe."
Matt coming up behind them broke up their conversation, the man tapping her on the shoulder to tell her it was time to go. "Shay, thanks for all this" he said giving her a hug, Gabby hugging Kelly goodbye.
"Don't be too hard on her will you?" Shay asked, Matt raising his eyebrow in question, "she just got carried away, she knows it was wrong to hide it. But she was hoping to have it all paid off before you'd realized."
"That doesn't make it any better..."
"No I know, but I think she knows she's done wrong she doesn't need a blistered bottom to remind her of that. Plus I'm pretty sure she's already had a spanking recently.." her gaze locking in on him with a knowing glint in her eyes, Matt titling his head in question. "Oh come on!" She exclaimed "we all saw her shuffling in her seat tonight it's pretty obvious. And she just told me she's grounded?"
"Yeah she will be, this wasn't just a small overspend Shay, she spent almost a grand! And then lied about it."
"I know, and I wouldn't tell you how to deal with it, but I think the guilt has already eaten her up enough. Just promise me you'll bear that in mind when lighting her up?"
"I will." He confirmed, the two blondes sharing one last hug, before Casey grabbed his wife's hand. Mrs Casey knowing that it meant he was ready to leave, the wife knowing that she was effectively walking to her own doom. "Ready?" he asked holding the door open for her.
"More than." She said smiling weakly at him, "I had a great time but man am I'm tired, growing humans is hard work."
"I know babe" he placed a soft kiss to her head as they moved across the street, Matt checking both ways before helping her across and up into his truck, shutting her door behind her before making his way round to the drivers side.
"That's why we'll deal with the overspend tomorrow, for now I just want to get you home and into bed."
"Yes sir."