-Welcome back to another chapter! Thank you so much for the continued support even though I'm terrible at updating in a timely matter! On to chapter 3!-

Dawson's eyes opened slowly, gathering where she was. "Damn, must've fallen asleep," she thought as she grabbed her phone to check the time. The phone read 3:16a.m. "I'm so hungry, might as well go see what's leftover from dinner."

Sitting all the way up, Dawson slipped on her flip-flops and headed for the community room. She tip toed past her crew and moved quickly down the stairs. Upon reaching the fridge, she dug around the Tupperware that were each filled to the top with pasta, vegetables, fruits, and garlic bread.

"Yuck," she whispered, "nothing looks good."

"How about we go out and find something to eat then?"

Dawson jumped, slamming the fridge door in the process. A loud 'bang' filled the silence. "Holy shit, Casey! Where did you come from? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"Sorry," he couldn't help but smile a bit, "didn't mean to scare you, just heard some noise and thought I'd come check it out."

Dawson just shook her head, her eyes finding the floor again as she leaned against the counter top.

"So…would you like to go in search of food?"

"Um…sure," Dawson spoke lowly, glancing at him and then back at the floor.

"Something's up with you Gabbi, and I'm going to figure it out eventually," his voice had confidence built in it.

"Good luck," she pulled herself off the counter and walked past him, "let me grab my zip up and then we can go."

Dawson and Casey walked down the sidewalk, the brisk early morning air creeping on every bit of exposed skin.

"This is why I don't ever go out this early in the morning!" Dawson whined.

"You've been on calls at this time…what are you talking about?" Casey laughed.

"Ok, this is why I don't willingly go out at almost four in the morning," Dawson rolled her eyes, letting out a soft chuckle.

Casey put his arm around her shoulder, "Well, don't worry, I've got you covered." Without realizing it, he pulled her in closer to him.

Dawson's heart fluttered, memories of her past with Casey flooding her mind. She almost couldn't catch her breath. Though things had ended so roughly between the two, she still loved him just as much as when they were together. She felt herself resting her head on his shoulder without saying a word.

The two continued their journey down the street until they came upon an IHOP restaurant.

"Pancakes sound delicious right now!" Dawson spoke excitedly.

"Pancakes it is," Casey agreed.

"And coffee, don't forget the delicious, hot goodness!"

"Yes, coffee too," Casey felt his body tingle as he watched Dawson become more like her normal self, such a happy go lucky woman that he still felt so much passion for. He grabbed the door and opened it, watching as Dawson almost skipped inside. He followed, smirking at her. "You're amazing, Gabbi," he whispered to himself.

"What was that?" she turned around to face him.

"What? Oh, uh…nothing. Just said I can't wait for pancakes." Casey tried to keep from blushing. Dawson had that effect on him, the only woman to ever make him weak in the knees.

"Ok, if you say so…" Dawson cracked a half grin, walking the rest of the way inside. The two were seated and began looking through the menus.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk more about the fire scene? It just seems that it really got to you, and the best thing to do is talk about it." Casey looked directly in to her eyes, trying to search for answers.

Dawson couldn't do anything but stare back. Memories of the scene came flooding back, picking up right where they had left off.

(Flash back to the fire scene)

Severide spoke Dawson's name three times before she finally responded to him, "What?" Her voice was filled with anger.

"We need your help inside, can you suit up?"

"Yeah, let me grab my gear off the truck, have one of your men help Sylvie!" Dawson took off to the front of the townhouse, sprinting back out to the street. She grabbed her gear off the truck and dressed quickly.

When she got her helmet on top of her head, she ran as quickly as she could back to Severide. "Where do you need me?"

"The boys think their might be another kid in there, but they can't fit between the fallen boards. You're smaller and can squeeze through to check!"

Dawson took off into the house, not waiting for direction. She ran up the stairs to where she thought the room might be. When she reached the top, she looked right and then left. To her left, boards were on fire, covering a door that had the name "Harper" in pink and grey wooden letters plastered to it. "Oh my…" Dawson took off towards the door, forgetting about trying to be safe. She dodged the two crossed wooden boards and banged on the door, "Harper?" she yelled, "Harper are you in there?"

"Dawson, you need to get out now, it's not safe anymore!"

"Chief, I think we have another kid in here!"

"Dawson, you have thirty seconds to evacuate before I come in there and get you myself!" Chief's voice became angrier and louder into her walkie.

She ignored his request and continued pounding on the door, striking with her feet as well. The fire around her started to feel hotter and closer. She began to panic, feeling like her air was running low.

With another strike against the door, she finally got it open. Dawson burst into the room, realizing she had just entered a nursery. "Was that Harper outside?" Dawson questioned. She continued to look around, not seeing anything.

"Dawson!" chief yelled over the walkie, "get out now!"

Dawson took one last glance and left the nursery, taking the same route back out. When she reached safety outside, she ripped of her helmet, coughing out the smoke that had somehow reached her lungs.

Chief came around from the front of the townhouse, "Don't you dare push your time like that again, do you understand me?"

Dawson arched over, "yes Chief, got it!" She coughed more, trying to catch her breath.

"You ok?" Severide came over, putting his hand on her back.

"Yeah," Dawson looked up at him, do we know what that little girl's name is?"

"Her name is Haleigh, according to the neighbor. He said they also have another little kid, a newborn named Harper. She was just born about a month and a half ago."

Dawson's heart immediately sank and she felt like she had gotten the breath knocked out of her. "Harper…"

"What is it, Dawson?"

"Harper…the name on the door…Harper's still in there!" Dawson stood quickly, throwing her helmet back on, "I have to get Harper!"

"Dawson, no!" Severide grabbed her, just in time from being crushed by the townhouse collapsing on itself.

"No!" she screamed, trying to free herself from his grip, "Harper!"

(Flash forward to present time)

"Dawson…say something," Casey waved his hand in front of her face. He began to feel as though Dawson was losing her sanity.

"Harper…I killed Harper…"

-And there is chapter 3! Plot twist, the fifteen month old wasn't the only one Dawson was struggling to come to acceptance about. There is a whole other story pouring out now! Do you want to keep reading? Let me know by leaving a review! Thanks in advance, lovelies!-