''Hermann, Boden wants to see you in his office.''
Hermann stood up and left the common room. Severide looked up from his car magazine and looked as Christopher left the room. He knew what was going to be told to Hermann, Hermann was going to be permanent lieutenant.
Gabriela bow her head as she was preparing food, ignoring Mills whom was trying to explain she should prepare the potato differently as she seemed only a second away from becoming mad at him.
''You should put them in the ove-'' Mad Gabriela threw the stuff aside and walked ot Kelly.
''Can I talk to you for a second?'' She asked and he nodded, stood up as the walked outside. As it was middle July, it was pretty warm and they sat outside.
''How is Matt taking it?'' Severide asked as they sat down.
''Better than expected. He seems actually okay with it. At least he hasn't given up on his rehabilitation, like he did before.''
''That is good, I am going to train again with him to-'' Before he finished his sentence Severide knew he shouldn't have said that and Gabriela frowned.
''You train together with him?''
''Don't be mad, it really helped him.''
''I am not mad, I am glad you did. He has improved every day ever since we came back from the trip to lake and I am really happy to see that.''
''I know, but that was not just me.'' Severide smiled humble.
''No, it was the three of us.'' Gabriela nodded and when she wanted to tell the happy news he would go home soon and they were looking for their own apartment the alarm rang. They jumped up and ran inside, away to the call.
After thrdto the station Boden got everybody to the meeting room. Gabby sat in the back with Severide as they knew what was going to be told.
''Guys I have an announcement to make. Hermann will be a permanent lieutenant.''
Everybody looked at Hermann, not sure if they should clap and not even Hermann himself seemed really happy he was permanently lieutenant now.
''What about Casey?'' Otis was the first to ask.
''You will see him around, he will still be working at CFD. But he is not returning to 51 as lieutenant.''
''Sit down, tell me what happened!'' His uncle pushed him down on of the dinner chairs and handed the shaking boy a glass of water. Sirens of police cars sounded a few blocks away and Matt closed his eyes, begging that he was still dreaming and those police car weren't there to arrest his mom and dad.
''Matt? Can you tell me what happened?'' His uncle sat down on the other side of the table, taking the glass from his hand before he would drop it. For years he had feared something would happen in the family, but this was something he never even thought about.
''She shot him.'' Matt finally mumbled, his eyes still pointed at the table and he didn't even look up when Christie handed him a clean T-shirt.
''Matt! Tell us what happened!'' Christie suddenly yelled as her brother still didn't reply.
''Christie, calm down!'' Micheal said.
''What happened to mom!?'' Christie cried as she also sat down. ''Is mom okay?''
''She killed him.'' Matt spoke, although he didn't even seem to believe it himself.
''Mom killed dad!?'' Christie cried. ''What if she has to go to prison?''
''Ofcourse she is going to prison, Christie! She killed dad!'' For the first time since they got inside Matt looked up and he jumped up and mad he hit his fist against the wall.
''It is my fault! I never should have told dad was there. I shouldn't have left the keys on the table!''
''How did she know his address?'' Christie managed to ask between her heavy breaths as she was still crying.
''It was on a label next to the key because I couldn't remember it.'' Matt said furiously.
''Matt, sit down please. This is not your fault.'' Micheal said as he tried to calm his shaken nephew down. He wanted to tell the siblings everything was going to be okay, but he also knew it wasn't going to be okay.
''Maybe it better he is dead.'' Christie mumbled then, bitter.
''How can you say that!?'' Matt yelled but before he could wait for his sister's answer the doorbell rang and Micheal slowly stood up, walking to the front door.
''Matthew Casey?''
''I am Micheal Byrne, his uncle.''
''We have to take Matthew to the station with us. He is a suspect in the murder of Alan Casey.''
Matt slowly stood up with leaden step but before he reached the door Christie suddenly ran towards him, hugging him.
''Please don't let them take you away from me! Don't leave me alone!''
''Christie, it is all going to be okay, I promise.'' Before Matt could let go of his sister his arm were roughly pulled on his back and he felt the handcuffs around his wrists.
''Your brother his innocent, he will be fine.''
''Nothing will be fine again!'' He could hear his uncle and his sister talking as the policemen took him outside and before he got into the car Christie ran outside.
''Matt! Please, don't leave me here! You are innocent!''
''Christie, it is going to be okay, I promise!'' The rain was soaking both of them and the policemen pushed him down by the head, into the car and when they drove away, it seemed lik Christie was still looking after them.
The rain was slamming down on the windshield as they drove to the nearby policestation and to make it even more dramatic, it also started to thunder.
Night is falling and you just can't see
Is this illusion or reality
You're in the army now
Oh, oh you're in the army - now
''Could you please change the channel?'' Matt asked as the song made him cringe, it was the song he had grown up with, the song his dad always used to sing.
''What, your parents didn't raise appreciating good music?'' The policemen looked back and his partner whom was driving shook his head. ''Wrong joke Johnson.''
Johnson just shrugged and put the radio a little loud while Matt bow his head. He wanted to cover his ears with his hands, so he wouldn't have to listen to the song, but since he was still in handcuffs he just sat there and he slowly started to fear for the future.
Matthew woke up, shaking and sweating. He wasn't sure if it was because the ballet he had seen with Eva that reminded him of the night his mom killed his dad but he had been reliving that night in his dreams over and over. Everytime he tried something else but he could never save his dad, thus never save his family.
He looked at the alarm, groaning as he had to get out of the bed in a few minutes as his speech therapy would start and he rolled over when the door opened.
''Morning.'' The nurse greeted him and he looked up.
''I c-can manage myself.''
''Are you sure? Your therapist said-''
''I insist.''
The nurse left the room while he sat up, sitting on the edge of his bed and pushed himself from the bed, stumbling to the wall and grabbing the doorway. His leg was still really unstable, but he managed to grab the sink while he slowly got ready for the shower. He had to prove he was able to do this so he could finally go home, or to his new home and care for his own family instead of drowning in the memories of the one he couldn't save.
He was still hoping he would hav ea real family one day and hopefully with Gabby but he knew she thought the same as far as he knew. But first he had to get better.
Slowly he sat down in the shower and he hoped he would be on time for therapy, to show he could really do it. Maybe it would help for the talk he would have with his doctor next week about when he could go home. Jus tin time he arrived at therapy.
The whole day was a busy day with various things and whehe finally reached his ron the evening, tire he was glad he could finally lay down in bed.
''Hey professor Casey!'' Two hands suddenly grabbed his shoulders and he looked up at Gabriela. He laid his head backward to kiss her but instead their noses bumped into each other.
''That was easier in s-spiderman. I thought you were on shift tonight.'' He laughed, rubbing over his nose and Gabby laughed.
''I am not alone, somebody else is here for you too.''
''Kelly!''
''Next time don't call me that late, I might be asleep.'' Severide teased him.
''What are you g-guys doing here?'' Matt asked, surprised to see them both here.
''We came to kidnap you, with permission from the Grinch ofcourse.'' Severide smiled.
Matt burst out in laughing while Gabriela looked confused.
''He calls nurse Jessica the Grinch, b-because of her eyebrows.'' Matt explained to Gabriela, whom had a hard time keeping herself from laughing as Jessica just passed them by.
''We, don't just blame me.'' Severide laughed it off. ''You were the one who started it.''
''Kids.'' Gabriela shook her head.
''But you were t-talking about kidnapping me. Do I have any choice in t-this?'' Matt asked as Gabriela grabbed her bag.
''No, it is cute you think you have a choice.''
''Can I at least change in some casual clothes?'' Casey asked as he looked at this sweatpants and CFD t-shirt he wore a lot as it was easy to get on and off.
''If you keep that shirt on.''
Fifteen minutes later they got settled in Casey's pick up, Gabby squashed in the middle with Matt's arm around her.
''But seriously, weren't y-you guys on shift?''
''Yeah, but we decided our shift would be more fin with you around.''
''Boden just l-let you go?'' Matt asked with a smile.
''Yeah, he was the one that actually send us to get you. He told everyone you were not coming back as a lieutenant this afternoon...well, you will see.'' Gabriela sat with a smile.
As they reached the firehouse and got inside, he was surprised to see everyone in the common room, looking at the large buffet.
''I don't think it is necessary we are all going to yell surprise, right?'' Boden greeted him first and Matt nodded, looking around at all the firemen looking at him.
''We wanted to do something...well... for your goodbye. We are all really sorry you are leaving and it was an honour working together with you and just know that 51 is still your home.'' Hermann spoke.
''Guys, I know. T-thank you. It was an honour serving with all of you!'' Casey said, moved by what Hermann just said and he tried to fight his emotions.
''Don't cry, I will cry too.'' Shay hugged him and smiled at him, trying to hold her tears and so did he.
''Won't cry, or try to. But t-this means a lot to me and you all mean a lot to me. Thanks guys.'' Without him wanting to he felt a tear was rolling over his cheek.
''You promised us not to cry!'' Severide said, rubbing over his shoulder.
''Sorry, no more c-crying.'' Casey wiped the tear away and the other men nodded at him.
''Let's have dinner.'' They decided then.
There were no calls during dinner and Casey stayed all the way untill Gabby and Shay received a call and Severide got ready to bring him home, hoping there would be no call for squad in the meantime as there was no ambo available.
''Just come to visit us every now and then, Hermann gets too unbearable sometimes.'' Mouch said, looking at Hermann who just sighed, annoyed.
''Ofcourse I will, we s-still have to decide a colour for your bridesmaids dresses.'' Casey joked as he and Severide left.
''I hope you liked tonight, that it didn't upset you more.''
''Not at all, it m-means a lot you arranged this. Thank you.''
''It wasn't me, it were the guys from your truck.''
Casey smiled as he had expected Severide would have arranged it, but he was very honoured it were the guys from truck.
''I heard from Gabriela you are moving in together in a few weeks. I am really happy for you.''
''in T-two or three weeks hopefully. We might have f-found an apartment just two blocks from here so we stay in our old neighbourhood.''
''Close to the academy and 51.'' Kelly said with a smile.
''Right, 2 bedrooms. 2 bathrooms so it is not that large but it is g-good enough for us.''
''Glad you found something...there is even room for expanding the family.''
''Oh yeah, I have always wanted a cat.'' Casey said with a cheecky smile. ''But...maybe.'' He smiled then.
NOTE: Although it might seem the ending of the story is getting close it is not. There is still the wedding...the honeymoon - can Casey and his wife stay out of trouble this time in Europe? Does it really go well with Casey and his new job? Does he really say goodbye to 51?
I hope you liked this chapter! Thank you for still following the story and please leave a review before you go!
You can also follow me on twitter now MiladyTwenty9! Please do - I'd like to get in the CF community on twitter!
Happy Holidays!