Antonio sat on the edge of the bed, it had been four and half months since he had stepped foot inside district and to be honest he was terrified of returning. He turned and looked back at the bed, it was dark but he could see the pile of blankets that had Sylvie wrapped beneath it, he could hear her steady breathing and knew she was still asleep. He was contemplating waking her; he was a nervous wreck and needed someone to talk through it with.
"Stop thinking so hard and just get in the shower." He jumped a little startled by her sudden intrusion, "God, Syl, I hate when you do that, it's like some weird ESP shit you have." He sighed and laid back down with his head near hers. Sylvie rolled over to face him, "Well if you didn't think so loudly then I wouldn't hear you." She giggled and kissed him on the corner of this mouth. He turned his head and looked at her, he wished it was a little lighter in the room, he could barely make out the details of her face, he needed to see those blue eyes, the ones that could drive him crazy and calm him all with the same look. He couldn't explain it but she was his center, his peace and he didn't know how he lived all those years with out her.
He rolled over and pulled her closer to him, her belly stopping her from scooting all the way into him. "I'm nervous." He said putting his forehead against hers. "Give it a week and you'll be so happy to be back, you love your job and you're damn good at it." He moved his hand to her belly and held it there, "It never kicks for me." Sylvie laughed, "Maybe cause you call it, It." She sighed, "Can we please find out so we can name it and I don't have to buy a bunch of green and yellow?" she was almost begging.
"You really can't stand surprises can you?" he laughed. Sylvie shook her head against his forehead. "Fine, but not right now, I have an idea, okay?" he leaned forward and kissed her quickly and rolled off the bed. "Okay?" she was confused by his sudden enthusiasm. "I have to get ready, Kim will be here in thirty and don't worry, you'll like it." he said as he disappeared into the bathroom.
Sylvie drug herself out of bed and headed downstairs, it was only six-thirty and she knew the kids wouldn't be up for hours, it was summer break which meant nowhere for them to be. Sylvie was half way down the stairs when she heard the door handle jiggle and she froze, wondering who would be trying to open the door this early. Kim's head peeked in and Sylvie sighed a breath of relief, "Kim, you scared the crap out of me!" she panted as she held he hand over her chest as her heart raced.
"Oh my god, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you'd be awake or I would have just knocked." She apologized as she shut the door behind her and entered the alarm code. "It's okay, you're fine, really, pregnancy brain, I forgot you were coming. Do you want some coffee? I'm about to make some for Tonio." Sylvie offered as she made her way down the stairs. "Actually yeah, that would be great, I could use some." Kim answered as she followed Sylvie to the kitchen.
Kim sat on the barstool as she watched Sylvie move around the kitchen making coffee. "So how's everything going?" Kim didn't want to ask about Antonio outright but knew Sylvie would fill her in. Sylvie handed Kim a cup of coffee, "He's doing better but he's scared. Just keep an eye on him okay?" Sylvie gave Kim a pleading look, she knew Kim loved him and would do anything to protect him. Kim nodded, "Hey Syl, we've got him, I promise. So try not worry, he will be fine."
Sylvie slid into the barstool next to Kim, sighed, and laid her head down. Kim laughed "Tired?" Sylvie nodded her head and let out a little whine. "How much longer until the mystery baby is here?" Kim asked. Sylvie lifted her head and looked at Kim "10 weeks and it won't be a mystery much longer, Tonio finally agreed to find out." Sylvie looked at Kim excited "Maybe we can go shopping soon?" Sylvie was in need of some actual girl. "Uh yes! Let me know when and I'm there." Kim laughed.
Antonio could hear laughing from the kitchen as he came down the stairs, he sighed and took a deep breath, it was now or never. As soon as he showed his face there was no turning back, Kim would drag him kicking and screaming if she had to. He stepped into the kitchen "Morning" he said as he moved behind Kim and squeezed her shoulders and kissed the side of her head. "Hey there, you ready to get going?" Kim asked as she spun on the stool to look at him.
Tonio nodded and stepped between the barstools to kiss Sylvie who still had her head down on the counter as she watched them. "Love you, see you later, and I'll call later." He whispered in her ear. "Love you too, bye Kim." Sylvie waved them off hoping that Antonio would have a good day and realize just how much he missed it.
Kim pulled into district and parked, she started to get out but noticed Antonio wasn't budging. "Hey, look at me, what's wrong?" she shook his shoulder to try to get him to look at her. He turned his head and shook it, "It's nothing, I'll be fine, I just need to make it inside that's all." He could feel a panic attack creeping up and was trying his best not to let it get that far. "Hey what do you need?" Kim was worried; he looked like he was ready to throw up. "A minute, just let me set a minute and I'll be fine." Antonio took a deep breath and let it out slow as he closed his eyes and counted to ten, he knew he looked ridiculous but he didn't care at this point, he just wanted to make it inside so he could start to get back to his normal self.
Kim watched as he tried to calm himself, he was so far from the confident man who had been her partner for years and she felt bad for him. In reality the accident could have happened to any of them but Antonio being the only father, aside from Voight, took it harder than anyone. She could see he still blamed himself and she wished he wouldn't but knew he probably always would. "We can set as long as you need to, we're not in a hurry today, we're grounded until further notice." Antonio turned his head to look at her, "me and you or the whole unit?" he asked hoping the answer was the unit.
Kim shook her head, "Just me and you, we're on desk duty until Voight decides you're ready for the field." Antonio turned apologetic "I'm sorry you're getting grounded to, that's really not fair to you." Kim stopped him, "Nope, don't apologize, it was my decision, I didn't want to leave you behind, you're my partner and if you're not ready, I'm not ready and that's just how it is and I wouldn't want it any other way." Antonio smirked at her, "that's really cheesy you know that right?"
"Well maybe it is but I don't care." Kim laughed. Antonio took a deep breath and looked at Kim, he winked as he opened the door, "It's now or never right?" Kim nodded her head and followed him inside.
Antonio stood inside the door and stared up the stairs that he knew would lead to Platt and he didn't know if he could face her. Kim nudged him and he turned to look at her. Kim could tell he was terrified and pulled him into a hug and just held him for a moment. "No one is judging you, you did nothing wrong, and we still love you." She whispered in his ear before releasing him and spinning him around to push him toward the stairs. Antonio sighed and slowly started up the stairs, taking them one at a time.
Antonio reached the top of the stairs, he stopped and took a deep breath and stepped through the doorway. Platt looked up from her morning paper and checked her watch, "Dawson, Burgess you're thirty minutes late you better get up to your unit before I'm forced to talk to your Sargent. Kim nodded her head and headed toward the cage and Antonio followed behind staring at Trudy, she winked at him and he smirked at her. She was his field trainer when he was a rookie and his first partner and he loved the woman to death, especially when she knew to just back off and let him have his space.
"Sarge knows were late don't worry about it." Kim informed him as he opened the gate and started to follow her up the stairs. She knew he hated be late and would worry how it would look to everyone for him to be late on his first day back. "I'm not worried, it's not like were doing anything anyways." He mumbled to himself certain he sounded like Diego when he didn't get his way. Kim turned her head and looked at him, "Sorry" he apologized and continued his ascent to the bullpen.
Antonio didn't know what to expect, it had been a long time, the last time he was gone for this long Erin had left for New York, he knew nothing that drastic had happened this time but he was still worried. He looked around and everything was the exact same. Everyone looked up and started greeting him but no one budged from their seats except Voight who was standing in his doorway. "Antonio, my office." Voight ordered in a stern voice from across the room. Antonio headed toward him and stopped in front of the door that Voight was blocking, he stared at him a moment before Voight opened his arms and pulled Antonio in for a hug. "It's good to have you back, the unit isn't the same without you bro."
Sylvie was sitting on the couch in the common room watching TV and enjoying the commotion of the firehouse, she really missed the action and hated being stuck behind a desk but was thankful she was at least at the firehouse and not stuck in 911 or OFI. Gabby flung herself down dramatically laying across the couch with her head in Sylvie's lap breaking her train of thought. "Ugh, Foster is driving me crazy." She complained. Sylvie chuckled, "Be nice, I like her and you could have had Chout or McAuley so be thankful." She pretended to scold Gabby.
"I guess but she's just so bossy, when am I getting you back?" Gabby whined. "Stop it, she's a good paramedic, it can't be easy knowing you'll be at 51 for almost a year and have to give it up, plus she has to work with the person she is filling in for. So cut her some slack and get along with her, for me, please." Sylvie begged.
Gabby decided to change the subject, "So how's my baby today?" Gabby asked while she patted Sylvie's stomach. "Baby's fine, if you wait a minute it might kick you in the head." Sylvie laughed. "Haha, funny, and how's my big brother? Did he make it to work today okay?" She turned her head to look up at Sylvie. "I think he'll be okay, he just needs to get back into. Voight has him grounded to the district until he knows he'll be okay in the field." Sylvie gave Gabby a knowing look, "Oh yeah, I give it one whole day before he's acting like a trapped lion, he hates desk duty. He'll drive Voight nuts complaining." Gabby laughed. "Honestly, that's what I'm hoping for, he needs to remember he loves it and get that stupid idea of leaving Intelligence out of his head." Sylvie confessed.
Foster leaned against the counter in the kitchen eating a box of crackers watching the members of the firehouse. She loved it here, she had always heard 51 was a family and that you were lucky if you could ever find a permanent spot but hearing and witnessing are two totally different things, the last four month had been amazing. She hated to think that her time would be up in four or five months but that was the life of a floater. She liked Gabby well enough but she was pushy and a little difficult to get along with but at the end of the day she was a good person and she respected her, she was damn good at her job. She eyed Sylvie sitting on the couch, she was the light of the firehouse, even she could see that, she was everyone's favorite person. "They're inseparable, always have been, even before everything they've been through." Foster jumped startled by the sudden intrusion, she looked over at Stella and smiled.
"You know I've been here four months and this place and your people still just amaze me, I've never seen a firehouse get along so well." Foster returned her gaze to Sylvie. "Is she really as sweet and innocent as she seems?" she asked out of curiosity. Stella snorted, "Brett? Sweet, yes. Innocent, no. She's an amazing person but innocent is not one of the words I would use to describe her." Stella was chuckling and Sylvie looked back at her to see what the commotion was, she smiled and Sylvie returned her attention back to Gabby. "She seems so wholesome, like a farm girl, you're kidding me right?"
Stella put her hand on Foster's shoulder, "Girl you have no idea. Hey, Brett, how'd you get pregnant with Sophia?" Foster punched Stella in the arm as Brett answered "Hook up in a car with my ex." She didn't even turn around, it became common knowledge after Otis let it slip at Molly's one night about a year before and she had been teased relentlessly for weeks about it, so talking about it didn't even faze her anymore. "And this one?" Stella hollered at Sylvie. Sylvie turned to look at her and smiled, "Stella, what are you doing?" she asked sweetly. "Filling our friend here in on the gossip of the firehouse." Stella stuck her tongue out teasingly. Sylvie shrugged her shoulders casually and returned her attention back to Gabby, "I think it was the backroom at Molly's but honestly could have been anywhere."
Foster glared at Stella, "That was a little rude don't you think?" Stella laughed, "Relax, she doesn't mind, I promise, she writes dirty romance stories too." Foster pushed herself off the counter and turned to face Stella, "it was still rude, now she's going to think I was prying, she probably already thinks I'm after her job." Foster sighed. "Uh, no, she knows her job is safe, they won't split the Dawson sisters up, Brett's the only one who can keep Dawson in line." Stella answered matter of factly.
"Still, I just want to get along with everyone here so please no more of the ambush shit, I was just curious about her. Plus, I've heard a couple of rumors and wanted to know." Foster shrugged. "Rumors? What have you heard about her?" Stella was very interested in this information. "It's from friends of mine from different firehouses so I'm sure its all bad anyway." Foster didn't want to repeat any of it but knew she more or less backed herself into a corner.
Stella grabbed Fosters hand and dragged her into the briefing room across the hall. "Okay Emily, spill and I will clear the rumors up for you." Foster looked around to make sure all the doors were shut. "Please don't repeat any of this." Foster begged and Stella nodded. "There's a rumor going around that she's made her way through all the guys at 51, Cruz, Otis, Severide, and a Jimmy and Mills, I'm guessing those last two are gone now, that she's lived with Cruz, Otis, and Severide at different points, and that she been with a lot of cops." Stella laughed and shook her head, she couldn't stop the laughing, "God, is our firehouse really that interesting? What else have you heard about this place?" Stella was trying her best to control herself.
Sylvie heard laughing coming from the briefing room, she nudged Gabby who was watching TV, still in the same position. "Can you help me up? This couch sucks me in." Gabby pushed herself off the couch and grabbed Sylvie's hands pulling her to her feet. Brett looked into the room and saw Foster and a laughing Stella, she pushed the door open, "What's so funny?" she asked moving into the room with Gabby following right behind. Foster looked as if she was going to die and Stella just laughed harder. Sylvie gave Foster a funny look, "is it something about me?" she questioned, she had a strong feeling it was.
"Umm, it is, I got curious after some of my friends fed me rumors last weekend and I wanted to get facts, I'm sorry, this is really none of my business, I'll drop it." Foster was starting to panic, she wanted this firehouse to like her and she pissed off the one person she needed on her side. Sylvie smiled, "I'm used to the rumors, I hear them all the time, like…I trapped Antonio, I stole him from his wife, I stole his kids from their mom, I made myself sick and almost killed myself and my daughter for sympathy, I'm only married because I almost died, the list goes on and on, so there's nothing you can say that will upset me, just ask, okay?" Foster gulped and nodded her head, "They're just stupid rumors but…that you've dated most of the guys in the firehouse and you've lived with a lot of them and that you've made your way through a lot of cops too."
Sylvie rolled her eyes, "The only guy I have dated in the firehouse is Cruz and it lasted a couple of months and was done. I did live with him and Otis as friends, all three of us in separate rooms, long after Joe and I broke up and I lived with Kelly for a while before I found out I was pregnant with Sophia and cops well, no one needs to know the number because there is only one who matters." Sylvie winked at Foster and laughed.
"What other rumors have you heard about this place?" Sylvie was curious, it wasn't often they got outsiders who were willing to tell them everything. "Oh lord, can I just please be done for the day? I'm embarrassed enough as it is, I really am sorry, I should have just come to you first." Sylvie walked over to Foster and wrapped her in a hug, "Girls are a rare commodity in the firehouse so we need to stick together, don't worry about it, we're good."
Antonio was staring at Kim doing her work; she was focused on her computer screen and hadn't noticed Antonio's gaze on her yet. Antonio was getting frustrated, "How can you stand just sitting here? It's driving me crazy." He complained as he stood up and started pacing around their desks. Kim smirked at him, "it's only been five hours and you're already bored out of your mind. And you wanted to move to the suburbs where you would literally be sitting all day? Yeah, that would have lasted a week and you would have been right back here begging for your job back just like when you went to work for Stone." Kim chuckled as she finished sending the information to the team that they needed.
Antonio huffed, "How long do you think he's going to keep us tied to the district?" he complained as he played with his paperclips and flicked them at him. "Seriously, Tonio you just got back, I'm going to guess at least a week, just give it time, we'll get back out there." She said throwing a paperclip at him that he had flicked to her side. He stared at her a minute and grumbled, "Fine." He knew everyone was just looking out for him but he really just needed to be back out in the field where his mind could focus on the job.
Antonio pulled up to the firehouse and turned off his truck. He sat in the silence for a moment, his day was impossibly long and he didn't know if he would survive sitting behind a desk waiting for Voight to decide when he could go back out. The garage doors were up and he saw Gabby walk to the ambo and open the back doors. He climbed out of the truck and made a beeline for her hoping to talk to her before he headed in to find Sylvie.
He snuck up beside the ambo to make sure Sylvie wasn't near, "Hey Sis!" he whispered. Gabby jumped, "What the hell Tonio, don't sneak up on me like that." She said as she punched him in the arm. "Shhh…come outside, I need to talk to you for a minute and I don't want Sylvie to overhear." He grabbed her hand and started to lead her out.
"What is this about Tonio? I need to stock." Gabby was annoyed. Antonio pulled an envelope out of this pocket and handed it to her, "I need you take this, it's the sex of the baby, and plan something special for Syl. She's put up with a lot this past year and she really deserves it." Gabby flipped it over in her hands several times before looking up at him, "So you want me to know first? Is Sylvie okay with that? I mean I'm more than happy to do it but.." Antonio cut her off, "Look, I don't care who knows first, I just want it special for her, Okay?" she nodded her head and shoved the envelope into her pocket. "Just don't tell anyone else." He warned. She stepped in and wrapped him in a hug, "I've got it, don't worry."
"Speaking of Syl, where is she?" he broke their hug. "Common room is where I left her, she was laying on the couch?" Antonio nodded and headed in. Antonio hated that Sylvie was still working 24 hours shifts but she insisted, he rounded the corner into the common room and found Sylvie asleep on the couch. He stood there watching her for a minute wishing he could just take her home, she looked exhausted and she still had thirteen hours left. He decided to wake her and knelt down next to her and shook her. Her eyes opened and she looked at him confused, "What are you doing here, is everything okay?" He nodded his head, "Everything's fine, I just needed to see you before I head home, that's all."
Sylvie smiled at him and leaned into him and kissed him. "How was work?" she asked as she pulled back. "It sucked, I hate desk duty." He pouted. She smirked, "I knew you would." She tried to cover her mouth as she laughed. "Okay, know-it-all, I miss the action okay, is that what you want to hear?" she nodded proudly. "Well, I better get home and relieve Eva from Sophia duty. Text me later. Love you." Sylvie yawned and nodded, "I will and love you too." He kissed her and headed toward the door.
Antonio walked into the bullpen and threw his jacket on the desk and dropped into his chair. He'd been back for a month and in the field for two weeks, he had forgotten how much running was involved, he was exhausted. "Hey, Molly's tonight?" Adam asked as he walked in behind him on his way to his desk. Antonio shrugged his shoulders, "I guess, as long as I don't have to run." he sighed. Adam chuckled, "So this surprise thing this weekend, what is it?" Adam asked. Antonio spun in his chair to look at him, "Honestly, don't know exactly, baby shower of some sort, Gabby's in charge." Adam scrunched up his face, "Do I really have to be there?" he really didn't want to go to a baby shower.
"Yes, you're going, stop complaining." Kim chimed in as she walked in from the hallway. Antonio pointed at Kim, "She's the boss, I'd do whatever she says." He said over his shoulder to Adam. "Everyone here is going, do I make myself clear?" Kim pointed at every member of the team as they all nodded their heads. "Good, it's for Sylvie, she didn't get one last time and she deserves it." She said firmly. Antonio smiled at Kim and mouthed 'Thank You' at her.
Sylvie was annoyed, she felt as big as a house and still had six more weeks until the baby was due, she was uncomfortable all the time, she barely slept, and Antonio was avoiding the baby sex subject again. She didn't want to get up and get dressed but she had committed to volunteering at a charity event and there was no way she was going to back out. She just wished Gabby hadn't roped her into it in the first place. She sighed and scooted out of bed deciding it was time to get ready before Kim came to pick her up.
Kim pulled up to the building and parked at the doors, Sylvie wasn't really paying attention and was surprised when her door opened and she turned her head to find Antonio standing there. She looked at Kim who smiled and shrugged her shoulders and motioned for Sylvie to go. Sylvie gave Antonio her hand and he helped her out of the car. "Umm, what are you doing here? You didn't volunteer." She was confused. "Gabby asked me to come." He smiled at her. "Let's wait for Kim." He motioned toward the car, not wanting her to miss anything. Sylvie looked at him skeptically. "You better not be doing anything sneaky." She warned, she hated surprises especially when she was the center of attention. "We're here to volunteer, what are you talking about?" he lied, trying not to give the surprise away.
Kim walked past them and nodded at Antonio, Antonio took Sylvie's hand, "ready?" he asked as he led her inside. Sylvie was confused and had a feeling she had been set up. Antonio was acting strange, he grabbed her hand and started dragging her toward a set of double doors at the end of the hall. He stopped just short of them and took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, he turned his body to face her and leaned in and kissed her on her forehead before laying his forehead against hers, "Please don't be mad." He smiled and kissed her again and pulled away. "Why would I be mad?" she asked as he opened the door and pulled her into a dark room. The lights suddenly flashed and the crowed yelled 'SURPRISE'.
Sylvie couldn't contain her emotions and she started to sob. Antonio pulled her against him and held her. "You're an asshole." She breathed into his neck as she hugged him. "I wanted to do something for you, Gabby's been planning it for a month." He squeezed her a little tighter. She spun in his arms to face the crowd and smiled. "Thank you everyone." She was embarrassed but very happy that her friends had shown. "Oh, that's not all, are you ready to find out what that baby is?" Gabby yelled from across the room. Sylvie turned to look at Antonio "really?" Antonio nodded and gave Gabby a thumbs up, all of a sudden confetti shot out of confetti cannons making the whole room a sea of blue and silver.
Sylvie gasped and spun back around to face Antonio, "A boy!" she said barely able to contain her excitement. He smiled and wrapped her in a hug, "A boy, are you happy with that?" he whispered in her ear. Sylvie pulled back and pressed her forehead against his, "Of course I am." She grinned and kissed him. The two were back in their own world oblivious to the applause and excitement going on around them.
"Ahem" Gabby was standing beside Antonio trying to get their attention. "I know you two would like to stay in your bubble but unfortunately you have a hundred guests who would like to congratulate you." Gabby laughed. Antonio sighed and threw his arm around Sylvie's shoulders and started leading her towards the crowd.
Four hours and the stream of people who wanted to congratulate them had finally died down and most people had already left, Antonio had disappeared with the guys somewhere leaving her all alone to deal with everyone. Gabby was busy trying to clean up and get the overwhelming amount gifts corralled and moved by the guys to the cars. Sylvie shut her eyes for a moment and felt someone slide in beside her at the table. She opened her eyes to find Emily beside her, "I wanted to say congrats and thanks for inviting me, I had a lot of fun." Emily smiled at her. "Thank you and you're welcome, you're a friend so of course you were invited." Sylvie tried to fake a smile but just didn't have it in her, she was exhausted.
"Do you need anything? You look tired." Emily asked, she was concerned, Sylvie looked more exhausted than when she finished her 24-hour shifts. Sylvie looked around and spotted the first person she thought would know where Antonio was. "Yes, I do actually. Do you see the blonde over there?" Sylvie pointed to where she stood and Emily nodded. "Can you go get her, please? Her name is Hailey." Sylvie begged. "Of course, be right back."
"Hailey?" Emily asked the woman who was faced away from her talking to a group of others. Hailey spun around "Yes" she smiled. Emily was taken aback by Hailey's smile and forgot why she was there for a moment. "Did you need something?" Hailey looked annoyed. Emily focused, "Oh yeah sorry" she laughed nervously, "Brett, umm, Sylvie sent me over here, she wants you." Hailey looked over Emily's shoulder and saw Sylvie, "Oh, okay." She said and started toward Sylvie.
"Sylvie, what do you need?" Hailey asked, she noted Sylvie didn't look so good, she looked tired and thought she should probably find Antonio. "Do you know where Antonio is?" Sylvie sounded like she was going to cry. "I'm going to go get him, hold on, and you, can you run and get Gabby?" she pointed at Emily hoping she knew who Gabby was. Emily nodded her head and took off for Gabby, "I'll be right back okay?" Hailey reassured her and took off for Antonio.
Antonio came running back when Hailey found him. He found Sylvie sitting at a table with Gabby crouched in front of her. "Are you okay?" He asked looking between Sylvie and Gabby. "I'm just tired and need to go home." Sylvie complained. Gabby shook her head, "I think she needs to go to the hospital, she has a fever and her pulse is high." Sylvie shook her head, no just take me home I'm fine, I'm just tired."
Antonio turned and looked at Adam, "Go get my truck" he threw his keys at him and Adam took off running. "You guys are over reacting" Sylvie whined as Antonio scooped her up and started carrying her towards the door. "After Sophia, it's not overreacting." He whispered to her. Sylvie sighed knowing she wasn't going to win.
Adam pulled the truck up and was going to jump out when he saw the commotion. "Stay in the truck, you're driving." Antonio yelled at him. Antonio opened the door and climbed in the back as Kelly passed an unconscious Sylvie to him. "What the hell happened?" Adam turned around to see what was going on. "She passed out, now turn around." Gabby climbed and slammed the door. "Hit the lights and drive, now!" Antonio yelled as he pulled out his phone to call dispatch.