Yes i know i know it has been a really long time but this month has been crazy for me. my sister had a baby and i have been on full on babysitting duty and i have finals and i had to deal with Christmas! so im sorry, and to show you how sorry i am i made this one extra long... hope you enjoy! R&R

-GRACE

Casey squinted at her, a look of worry appearing across his face.

"Whats wrong with your shoulder?" Casey moved toward Dawson, and gently stroked a finger on the shoulder she was fiercely rubbing at. Dawson felt a spark of heat run up her spine from his touch.

"Nothing, Grace's father just has a very tight grip." She said grimacing slightly at the memory. Casey then got fairly curious, and tugged at the collar of Dawson's shirt, to reveal some light bruises in the shape of a skinny hand. A spark of anger went through him at the thought of that bastard doing this to her.

"What happened? He did this to you? All chief said was that Nina might not make it and you where in trouble." Casey was now sitting next to Dawson, his hands gently holding onto her upper arms, and staring at her intently. Dawson found herself having trouble not breaking down right then and there as she looked into his blue eyes and as she spoke the next few words,

"Grace's dad threatened me." Dawson put her head in her hands, letting out a long sigh. "I messed up bad Casey, I don't know what I'm going to do." casey leaned forward and carefully ran his calloused hand up and down her back.

"Your not going to let that bastard get to you, and your going to keep moving. It wasn't your fault, Nina might have been poisoning her daughter. If the husband does anything you tell me, and you can come and sleep on my couch." Dawson sat up and let out a little smile at this.

"I may take you up on that offer, thanks Casey." Dawson stood up then, knowing that if she stayed any longer she might do something stupid.

"I gotta go clean the Ambulance." She turned away from Casey, and gave him a little wave as she pushed through the door of the locker room and back into the tiled hallway. Wow, she thought to herself, nice exit, real smooth. She shook her head in annoyance at her own stupidity as she walked towards the ambulance and the moving figure of Leslie Shay.

Casey knocked on the chiefs door, tapping his foot in agitation during the seconds before chief waved him in.

"Hello Casey, what can I do for you?"

"What do I do about Dawson? Shes spooked from that guys threats." Casey asked, sitting down in the chairs in front of Chief Boden's desk.

"That guys name is Ethan Welseal, and is one of the leading donators to this departments and the police academy, so we aren't going to do anything. Before you say anything or do anything," chief said as Casey moved to protest, "this is not my call. We cant afford to loose him as a donator, and no matter what we try Dawson is not going to get out of this unscathed unless that girl tells her father that his wife was poisoning her." Casey nodded in grim understanding. He didn't like what he was hearing but he knew that chief was in a tough spot, Dawson hadn't exactly been doing Chief any favors recently.

"You don't think that Ethan would act on these threats do you chief?" Casey asked nervously. The corner of chiefs mouth lifted slightly, of course Casey would ask that question. Chief had seen the chemistry between the two, even if it was just the slightest glances from across the room.

"Theres always a chance, Ethan is trying to protect his family but I don't know if he would risk everything to come after Dawson. I will keep a lookout, but she knows how to take care of herself."

Casey thanked chief and stepped out of the office not feeling any better then when he had come in. He walked over to the ambulance parked out side, as he approached he heard the shuffling of boxes coming from the back. Dawson was going through the rubber gloves, throwing away the empty boxes replenishing the half empty ones.

"So what exactly did he say?" Casey for the second time that day scared the living begezus out of her, as he climbed into the back of the ambulance and went to sit across from her.

"Jesus Casey! You should really learn to knock or something." Casey smiled in amusement at her.

Dawson then registered what he had asked and furrowed her brow in confusion.

"What did who say?" She asked. Casey then internally acknowledged how cute she looked when she was confused.

"Ethan, Grace's dad." Dawson sighed at the mention of this and stayed silent for a few moments before responding.

"He said, and I quote, I swear to god, I'm about to make your life hell." Dawson then looked Casey directly in the eye, her lips puckering slightly with agitation. He felt more anger bubble up inside of himself.

"wait a second, how do you know Grace's dads name?"

"Umm well..." Casey stumbled a little, suddenly feeling a tad bit cramped in the small ambulance. "I went to Chief to ask what his plan was do deal with your situation."

"Well, what did he say?" Dawson asked suddenly, a small note of hope in her tone, her eyes shining a little bit brighter. As Casey explained what chief had said she saw the hope die away, and the only thing he wished for in that moment was that he could find a way to bring it back.

"Well thanks Casey, at least you tried." Before Casey could let out another word Dawson glanced down at her watch, and notice that her shift would be ending in about 10 minutes, just enough time for her to grab her stuff and get on home to a nice hot shower.

"Matt our shift ends in 10, I should go grab my stuff and get on home, thanks again for everything you have done for me today, I mean it." She hopped out of the ambulance with Casey right behind her. When they where both on the ground she turned and landed a quick kiss on his cheek, her action a shock to both of them. Dawson then strongly walked off, willing herself to keep moving.

"My offer still stands!" Matt yelled to her as she walked away.

"Thanks again!" She yelled back with a smile on her face.

Dawson rarely got knocks on her door. Especially at 10:30 at night. She would occasionally get a knock on the door from one of the fire crew who where to drunk to go home and would instead crash on her couch, but that was about it. So when she had just stepped out of a nice long hot shower and she got a knock on her door she was a little bit nervous. For this reason she opened her front door only a crack, a baseball raised threatening in her hand. On the stupid doormat that she and Shay had bought together during a break between shifts lay a bouquet of flowers. She hesitantly picked it up, it was made up of vibrant red Roses, so bright they where almost the color of blood, and Queen Annes Lace. She almost thought it was sweet for a moment, that maybe it was sent by Matt or Peter or someone she had saved on the job, but that idea changed when she read the only two words on the card.

Ethan Welseal.

fifteen minutes later Dawson was on Casey's doorstep wondering if she had made up her mind to fast. The card was clearly just supposed to scare her, but that was exactly what it did do. She shook her head, convincing herself that she made the right choice. She gently tapped her knuckles against the door, when no one came she began doubting anyone was there. To the right of the door there was a door bell and Dawson gathered up her confidence and rung it. When she heard running foot steps her heart jumped a little, and she was relieved when Casey pulled open the door.

"Gabby?"

"Hi Matt. Im sleeping on your couch." She placed her hands on his chest and pushed him to the other side of the door slightly, making her way inside his house where she then collapsed on his couch wondering where the night would go from there.