A/N: so here's the deal… we all know that none of the characters can ever be happy on these shows… The second they are something bad happens. Now do I take pity on my character who has been through so much already and let her be happy? Or do I really just poop all over her. What mood am I in? Let's find out!

Chapter 21

Kat was sitting in the passenger seat, ringing her hands. Why? Why would the universe do this to her and Antonio , after everything they had gone through already? Jay didn't tell Erin what condition Antonio was in, just that he had been shot, and to get to Med as fast as possible.

Erin glanced over at her, grabbing her hand. She knew what Kat was going through, Jay had been kidnapped during one of their ops while she was on "sabbatical " from the department , and it took everything Erin had not to kill the men that took him. She raced through the streets desperate to get there as fast as she could. When they pulled up Kat almost didn't wait for the car to stop before she leaped out, causing Erin to brake hard and yell after her "Kat wait!"

Kat didn't listen. She ran inside the emergency room , past the front desk ignoring the woman yelling at her to wait. She saw a familiar face at the trauma desk "Maggie!"

Maggie looked up and waved to the receptionist, letting her know it was fine.

"Where is he? Where's Antonio?" the tears ran down her cheeks. "Please I need to know where he is!"

Kat felt strong hands wrap around her waist holding her up. She looked up and saw Will next to her. "Will, where is he? Is he okay?" he lead her to an empty room and sat her down on the bed.

"Kat , there's no easy way to say this…" he started and Kat shook her head.

"No!" she held her hands to her mouth.

"Antonio was shot two times. One of the bullets was minor, it was through and through, but the second lodged near his lung. Connor is in there right now, attempting to repair the damage. Kat, he lost a lot of blood." He held her hands, his heart breaking with every sob she made.

"Will he has to make it. We're getting married… we're having a baby…" She leaned forward as rested her head against his chest. "I can't lose him Will."

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Connor standing outside the room, so he waved him in. The look on his face was grim to say the least. "Kat sweetie Connor's here."

She raised her head to look at him. "Is he okay? "

"Kat I am so sorry. " Connor began and Will was afraid what the rest of the sentence would entail. "I did what I could, but he can't handle any more surgery at the moment . The bullet nicked his left lung, and he's bleeding internally. I stopped it as best I could , but I'm afraid we might have to remove the lung all together." Connor hung his head. He had seen this before, and it didn't turn out positively.

Kats eyes darted between Will and Connor . "He can't be a cop with one lung can he? He loves his job…"

"He loves you more. " A voice from the doorway spoke up. All three turned to see Hank standing there. "I've seen Antonio change over the last 9 months since you walked into his life. Today especially, he was excited about the baby, about the wedding . That's what's important right now. You and him." Will and Connor stepped aside to allow Hank to sit next to her.

"I'm not… I'm not family yet. I don't know if I can make that decision. Is he awake? Can I talk to him?" she turned to Connor.

He shook his head "He's in a medically induced coma, we want him to rest as much as possible. Kat I'm sorry to push but you are the closest thing to family he has."

Kat sat, shocked. She couldn't do this, make this decision. She was afraid to make the wrong one, that she would ruin Antonio's life with the words. All she wanted was for them to be happy and together, a family. She needed air. She jumped up and ran out of the room, ignoring the voices that called out to her. She shoved her way past everyone in the waiting room and out the front door of the hospital, finally pausing as she gulped deep breaths of air into her lungs. She started walking , with no direction in mind, she knew she just needed time. After stopping along the river she heard footsteps approaching, and felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and looked into familiar blue eyes. Kat fought back a sob as she beat her fists against his chest in anger and fear.

"Jay, what happened? I told you to watch his back!" she sobbed and Jay stood there and let her vent her frustrations. The fact was he let them both down. They had no idea the call they had gotten was going to turn into a gang shooting, where members of the opposite gangs started firing at each other , not caring who was hit in the cross fire. Jay was beating himself up more than Kat was , so he continued to let her hit him until she exhausted herself . "I can't do this Jay…What if I make the wrong choice? It'll affect him for the rest of his life, what if he gets mad at me? I can't…" she buried her face in his chest.

"You have to. Kat it'll save his life, that's what's important ." He rubbed her back in an attempt to calm her down. "We will figure something out, Voight always does. We just need to get him healthy." He pulled away looking into her tear filled eyes. "He would want the chance to be there for you and this baby, iregardless if it means he's a cop anymore or not." He held out his hand "Come on, let's get you back."

Kat nodded and took his hand, and they walked back to the hospital together . As they walked back through the waiting room , she saw the faces of everyone she had ran past earlier. They didn't look at her with sadness, only support, a silent "We've got your back.". Kat stopped when she heard her name being yelled, and she turned to see Diego and Eva run up to her. She dropped Jays hand and wrapped her arms around the kids tightly.

"Hey guys, I'm so sorry I didn't see you earlier." She looked up and locked eyes with Laura , Antonio's ex wife, who made her way to her. Kat knew Laura didn't like when Antonio started dating , he had told her about the run in Sylvie had with her at the firehouse, but she couldn't let that bother her now, she had too many other things to worry about. "You must be Laura, I'm Katherin, but everyone calls me Kat." She went to reach her hand out for Laura to shake it, but instead the woman pulled her into a hug shocking Kat.

"I know who you are, my kids talk about you constantly . I'm so glad they have you, Antonio too." She pulled back and looked Kat straight in the eyes. "We are here for you, whatever needs to be done."

Kat stood there for a moment , still trying to process what was happening when Connor came into the waiting room. "Kat, I need you to come with me please. " She nodded and mouthed "Thank you" to Laura before following Connor into the emergency department .

"Has there been any change? I'm sorry I rushed out of here earlier, I needed to clear my head." She blindly followed the man in front of her, not really paying attention to where they were going until he stopped. She peered in the room and saw Antonio laying in the bed. Kat gasped and rushed into the room. "Antonio!" she grabbed his hand squeezing slightly . "Can he hear me?"

Connor nodded. "He's sedated , but he can still hear you. Kat talk to him if it'll help you decide, but I need a decision soon. I'll be back in a few minutes ." he squeezed her shoulder and walked out shutting the door behind him.

Kat took a seat next to the bed, hand never leaving Antonio's. "I wish you were awake, so I could talk to you. I want to make the right decision , but I'm so afraid…" she put one hand on her stomach "Antonio I need you to be here. For us, for this baby… I can't do this alone. I know you love being a cop but… you're a father too. " She laid her forehead on the bed, closing her eyes and praying.

Connor had stepped outside to look at Antonio's chart when he heard someone come up next to him. When he looked up he saw Kelly standing there. "Kelly you can't be back here. "

"I wanted to talk to you about Antonio." Kelly said "He's got the same injury Stella did a few years back right ? What if you do the same thing for him as you did for her? Then he can still be a cop."

Connor checked the chart "The damage might be too severe, but it can't hurt to try. Okay I need you back in the waiting room please." He ushered Kelly out and then went back to Antonio's room. "Kat I think we have a compromise!"

Kat looked at him with questions in her eyes , but since the medical lingo was above her head she just nodded and told Connor to do whatever he could. The medical team rushed in and took Antonio back to surgery, leaving Kat alone in his room, head in hands.

8 months later

Kat was sitting in the rocking chair in the middle of the nursery, looking down at the bundle in her arms, singing.

Somewhere, over the rainbow, way up high

There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby

Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue

And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true

Someday I'll wish upon a star

And wake up where the clouds are far behind me

Where troubles melt like lemon drops

Away above the chimney tops

That's where you'll find me

Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds fly

Birds fly over the rainbow

Why then, oh why can't I?

If happy little bluebirds fly

Beyond the rainbow

Why, oh why, can't I?

She was in love. Gabriella Camille Dawson was born six weeks prior, the spitting image of her parents. She had Kats blue grey eyes, and Antonio's jaw line and complexion. This baby had been showered with more love than Kat could ever imagine possible. Between her multiple honorary aunts and uncles, her actual aunt, her cousins and of course Hank… baby Gabby was beyond blessed. Kat was so enthralled with her daughter that she didn't know anyone else had entered the room until she felt a kiss on the top of her head. She looked up into Antonio's dark eyes "Hey babe… she's almost asleep."

He walked around the chair and knelt in front of them, kissing baby Gabby's forehead, then Kat. "I can't get enough of this sight. You look positively angelic sitting here."

Kat giggled , flushing red as she rocked the baby back and forth . "She's like her father, a fighter. I have to sing for 30 minutes before she's finally out." She handed the now sleeping infant to her dad, who turned and put her in the bassinet. Kat watched Antonio whisper to his baby daughter in Spanish before laying her down, making her smile. They snuck out of the room with one last glance towards the bassinet , shutting the door as quietly as possible .

"You think she'll sleep through the party?" Kat whispered, praying she would.

"Probably not, but there will be plenty of people ready to hold her." Antonio grinned, pulling Kat towards him. They had been through so much over the last 8 months, from Antonio's surgery and recovery to Kat giving birth, and now it was time for them to finally get married. They didn't get their firehouse wedding , but decided that a wedding and party at their house would be the next best thing .

The guests arrived a few hours later, and shortly the house was full of people . Just as Antonio thought baby Gabby didn't stay asleep for long, and Aunt Erin was happy to take care of her while Kat got ready . When she walked out of the bathroom in Camille's dress, the entire room of women that were there to help gasped.

"Oh Kat, you look beautiful ." Erin was trying not to cry openly, but it was proving difficult . She had found the dress in Hanks attic, and made sure that it was reimagined just for Kat. It was a combination of satin and lace, nothing fancy since Kat wasn't that type of person, but it fit her perfectly . She considered it her something old and new, so she just needed her borrowed and blue. Erin handed Kim the baby and pulled out a box from her purse, handing it to Kat. "Here's your something borrowed. "

Kat opened it and gasped, it was a stunning pearl bracelet that Erin had found tucked away at Hanks house. Kat held out her arm and Erin happily fastened it for her. " Now all you need is your something blue."

At that moment there was a knock on the door and Erin went to answer it. When she peeked out the crack she saw Diego standing there holding a box and note. "I have a delivery for the bride." He said holding out his hand.

"Kat you have a delivery." Erin let Diego in , taking the baby back from Kim and sat back down cooing at her.

Kat grinned and pulled Diego in for a hug. "Hey buddy! Whatcha got for me?"

He handed her the box and note "Its from dad." He waved at the rest of the occupants of the room and ran off again.

Kat sat down and opened the note tears immediately forming in her eyes.

"To the woman who made my life whole… today is the day we officially become husband and wife, but I knew from the day I met you we would be together. While I may have had some missteps along the way, my whole life has led me to you. You have given me everything I could ever ask for… and today you'll give me one more thing … you'll take my last name. So today I thought you deserved something that showed how much you mean, not just to me but our children too. Te amo mi amor. Antonio"

Kat tucked the note away and opened the box, pulling out a necklace. It was silver and was a hand stamped circle of a tree with the name Dawson on it. Hanging from the circle were silver leaves , with each of their names , Diego and Eva included. The girls all awwwwed when they saw it, but only Erin mentioned the lack of something blue. That's when Kat pulled another chain out of the box that held each of their birthstones, including baby Gabby's, a sapphire.

"Wow that brother of mine can be a softie." Gabby wiped a tear away from the corner of her eye.

"Yeah, and I wouldn't have him any other way. " Kat sniffed, trying to keep herself from breaking down. There was another knock on the door and Hanks voice came from out in the hall "Its time." The women each gave Kat a squeeze. Baby Gabby was happy to spend time with her namesake, and that left Kat alone with Erin. Erin fastened the necklaces for her and turned her around so she could see herself in the mirror.

"God Kat , did you think all those years ago we would get here? " She held Kats hand "I sure didn't."

Kat shook her head "Not in my wildest dreams… are we sure it's all real?" They smiled at each other and turned towards the door when they heard Hank clear his throat.

"Ready baby girl ?" he kissed her cheek and held out his arm "You look wonderful."

Kat smiled "Ready as I'll ever be." Erin walked in first, Kat could hear the music playing and she began to get nervous… but as soon as she locked eyes with Antonio everything and everyone else melted away. She could see tears form in his eyes when he saw her. As she and Hank walked down the aisle she realized that this was exactly how life should be, surrounded by family.