Hello everyone! Hopefully all of you are doing alright, and staying safe! Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoy!

FIFTY THREE

"He took the plea deal."

Casey's eyebrows furrowed immediately, like he couldn't believe what he'd heard as he felt Gabby's body tense by his side, the firefighter snapping out of his confusion long enough to look towards his girlfriend. Her face was blank, her eyes trained on her brother, but the tension he could feel radiating off of her was enough to tell him how she was feeling. And it wasn't good.

"What?" Matt asked after a long beat of silence when it was clear Gabby wasn't going to say anything, Antonio tearing his gaze away from his sister to look towards the firefighter. "I thought you said you didn't think he would take it…"

"I didn't." Antonio replied, bringing his hand up to rub along the side of his face. "I was shocked, truthfully. I didn't expect him to take it at all, after how insistent he'd been through this entire thing that he never did anything to you, Gabby, I never expected him to take it… But we knew when they offered it to him, there was a possibility he would."

Matt nodded slowly, the Lieutenant drawing in a sharp breath as he moved his hand around to Gabby's back, rubbing soft, soothing patterns against her as she had still yet to say a word.

"My only guess here is that when him and his lawyers got wind of Gabby's testimony, that we had her on tape going through everything he ever did to her, that must've scared him… That he didn't want a bunch of jurors seeing that. Because if this went to trial and he was convicted, he'd be doing some serious jail time. That's the only thing I can think of as to why he'd suddenly be okay pleading guilty after he swore up and down he didn't do anything… But I don't know for sure, he's the only one who does, all I know is this thing isn't going to trial." Antonio breathed out, Matt releasing a soft sigh as he felt Gabby's body lean into his slightly, Casey immediately wrapping his arm around her to pull her closer, understanding exactly what she needed from him.

"So, uh…" Matt started, clearing his throat as Gabby crossed her arms over her chest, like she was trying to protect herself. "What now?" He questioned, seeing Gabby's head lift up slightly to look at him, Matt turning towards her gaze as the two locked eyes for a moment, her expression telling him just how overwhelmed she was. Giving her as supportive of a smile as he could, Matt pressed a soft kiss to her forehead before returning his attention to the detective. "What happens to Walker?"

"Well, he will be doing some time, he's in custody- probably headed to Cook County already, but uh…" He trailed off, Gabby biting down roughly on her bottom lip, the metallic taste of blood soon filling her mouth as she broke skin.

"But what?" Casey asked, his arm secured around Gabby's shoulders, keeping her tucked into his side, Antonio's gaze locking on his sister as she lifted her head.

"...How long, Antonio?" Her voice was rough, the words sounding almost foreign coming from her as she spoke for the first time in a few minutes. She could sense her brother's hesitation, like he was almost afraid to give her the answer to her question, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before speaking again. "How long?"

"Ninety days."

Gabby's expression remained unchanged as his answer hung in the air, Matt's entire body tensing in anger as he pushed himself up from the table, his arm falling off her shoulder in the process.

"What?!" He nearly shouted, Antonio taking a deep breath as Casey took a step forward. "That's it?! For all he did to her, he gets ninety days?"

"Casey-"

"That's bullshit!" He fought back as he shook his head angrily, the sound of his heavy footsteps filling the tense air as he began pacing back and forth. "He abused her for years! He hurt her- he fucking terrorized her, and all the hurt and pain he caused her, that adds up to ninety days in jail.. That's it? That's all he gets?! Why was that even offered to him?"

"Casey, man calm down." Antonio tried, knowing the firefighter's loud words were most likely being heard out in the common room, Matt shaking his head before running his hand along the back of his neck, his anger rolling off him in waves.

"Antonio…"

"I'm not happy about it, either." The detective cut in, his eyes flashing back towards his sister, who had yet to say anything. "If it were up to me he'd be locked up forever, but we knew this was a possibility… We knew if he took the plea deal, that he'd get a reduced sentence. And if this thing went to trial, there's no telling what might've happened. He could've gotten years in prison, or he could've been found not guilty. We have no way to know what might've happened." He spoke calmly, Matt continuing to pace while Gabby's eyes stayed glued to the floor, neither of them saying a word. "And while I wish it was more… there's a part of me that's grateful he took the deal, because at least now we don't have to go through a trial. Gabby doesn't have to go through a trial." He continued, his words causing Casey to stop and look up at him, Antonio seeing the relief that flashed in his eyes. "I wish there was something else I could do… I wish he'd gotten more time, but we can't change that. Based on what they had, that's what they felt was right. I don't agree with it, but it's where we are."

Drawing in a deep, calming breath, Casey gave him a nod, the firefighter slowly coming to terms with the fact that Antonio was right. He didn't like it, but he was right. They had no idea what could've happened had this gone to trial, and thought of Gabby having to relive that nightmare all over again and there being the possibility he wasn't found guilty, that alone made him nauseous. Since she decided to press charges, not a day went by where Matt hadn't worried about Gabby having to get up on that stand and explain to a room full of strangers what all Bryan had done to her. That she would have to go through all of that, and there was a chance she still might not get the justice she deserved. He'd thought about that constantly, and admittedly, there was a part of him that felt relieved that this wouldn't be going to trial.

But despite that relief, this didn't feel like justice, either. This didn't feel like Walker was getting the punishment he deserved for all the horrible and unimaginable pain he'd put Gabby through. This felt like he was getting off easy, like he was getting a slap on the wrist for hurting the last person on this earth that deserved it.

It felt like he was getting away with it, and that was a hard pill for Casey to swallow.

"What happens once he's out?"

Gabby's soft voice pulled him from his thoughts, Matt glancing back to see his girlfriend still rooted in her spot, an apprehensive look covering her face as her eyes were trained on the older Dawson.

"Is he just free to do whatever he wants? … Ninety days and then it's over? Like it never happened?"

Matt could hear the hint of fear in her words, the firefighter immediately walking back over to know, reclaiming his position by her side. The second he was next to her, she shifted back into him, Casey feeling a rush of guilt flood through his body, knowing she'd needed his comfort and he'd let his anger get in the way of that.

"No." Antonio responded, shaking his head as he took a step closer towards his sister. "The restraining order was granted, that was part of his plea deal… He has to stay away from you. Once he's out, he's not allowed anywhere near you, or the firehouse. Ever again." The detective spoke firmly, needing to make sure his sister understood. "And he'll be on probation… If he violates that, or the restraining order, his ass goes right back to jail. He doesn't get any second chances, he won't be able to talk his way out of it- if he violates the conditions of his plea deal, he's done." He explained, Matt feeling some of the tension leave Gabby's body as she nodded in response.

"Okay." She murmured, her bottom lip falling between her teeth as Matt placed his free hand on her leg, giving her thigh a reassuring squeeze. Antonio kept his eyes on his sister for a moment, drawing in a slow, unsteady breath as he came to a stop directly in front of her, reaching out to place his hand on her arm.

"I… I know I promised you that he'd pay for what he did to you, and I'm sorry there's not more." Antonio spoke regretfully. "I'd give anything for him to be locked up forever, I wish I could've done more, Gabs, but I am telling you right now that I will make sure he never comes near you again… No matter what I have to do, he'll never hurt you again. I won't let him."

Gabby gave him another nod, running her tongue along the inside of her cheek before forcing a weak smile. "...I know you did all you could." She responded quietly, Antonio rubbing her arm comfortingly. "And I guess ninety days is better than nothing." She continued, Matt's eyebrows furrowing as he listened to her, both men a little surprised by her reaction. "Thank you, for helping me."

Antonio and Matt shared a quick look before the detective nodded, the older Dawson bringing his sister in for a tight hug. "Of course." He spoke softly, feeling her arms tighten around his waist as he pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "...I just wish it was more." He breathed out.

They stood in silence for a few seconds before the sounds of the bells going off pulled them from their moment, Matt wincing when he heard 61 being called for along with squad and engine.

Sighing softly, Gabby pulled herself from her brother's embrace, Antonio stepping back as she pushed herself up off the front of the table.

"I guess duty calls, but I'll, uh- I'll call you later? Maybe tomorrow morning after shift…" She spoke as she glanced towards her watch, seeing how late it was already, Antonio nodding slowly as he and Matt shared another look.

"Let me go tell Boden to reroute the call." Casey offered, the man standing up straight as well as both Dawsons glanced towards him, Gabby immediately shaking her head.

"No, no, it's fine." She replied softly, a look of hesitation flashing in his eyes.

"Gabby…"

"Sis, are you sure that's a good idea?" Antonio added, Gabby's eyes bouncing back and forth between her brother and boyfriend before giving them a slight nod.

"It's fine, I'm good." She responded quietly, reaching her hand out to squeeze her brother's arm reassuringly before stepping away from the men and heading towards the door. Both Matt and Antonio watched her as she went, the paramedic flashing them a soft, unconvincing smile before she disappeared into the common room, no doubt heading for the garage as she left the two men alone in the conference room.

Blowing out a sigh, Matt ran his hand along the side of his face as he leaned back down against the table, his gaze immediately finding Antonio's as the detective stood next to him.

"Do you think she's okay?" The older Dawson asked, his hesitant voice filling the otherwise silent air as Matt pursed his lips together. "I just don't want her to be… well, Gabby, and shut down about this." He continued, Matt's hand moving around from his jaw to the back of his neck, the firefighter shrugging before he responded.

"I… I think she will be." He spoke, catching Antonio's gaze. "I think she needs time to process all this. None of us really knew what to expect from today, and now that we know what's happening… I think the best thing for us to do is give her time."

"Yeah, you're probably right." Antonio agreed softly, shaking his head as he mimicked Casey's stance, the detective leaning his body weight against the table. "I just… It's hard, seeing her like this. Knowing what all she went through, and how I had no idea… How I wasn't there for her."

"But you're here for her now." He cut in, Antonio lifting his head to look towards the firefighter. "That's all you can do now, Antonio. Just be there for her… That's what she needs from you. That's what she needs from all of us." Matt spoke strongly, watching as the detective drew in a deep breath. "Bryan only getting ninety days… that pisses me off, it does. And I wish there was something we could do to change it, but we can't. All we can do is focus on Gabby, be there for her now. And make sure she's okay."

Swallowing the thick lump in his throat, Antonio nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest, Matt reaching out to place a supportive hand on the detective's shoulder.

"...I know you're right." He agreed after a few moments, Matt squeezing his shoulder. "I'm just… I'm angry. At all of it… But I know I need to try not to be. That won't help Gabby, I know it won't, but…"

"She's your sister, and the guy who hurt her is getting off easy." Casey voiced the words he was trying to, Antonio glancing back up at him. "Trust me, I get it… Knowing what all he did to her, any time I think of that asshole, I want to throttle him. I want to hurt him like he hurt her… But I'm trying not to focus on that, because I know that won't help her. Despite how I feel about him, I'm trying to move past that anger, and concentrate on what's important. And that's Gabby." He explained, Antonio giving him an immediate nod in agreement. "...But it's easier said than done. So I get it." Casey added quietly, his last words earning a knowing look from the detective as he pushed himself up off the table, Matt biting down on the inside of his lip.

"Yeah..." Antonio murmured, shaking his head before he took another step away from the table, Matt standing up as well. "I, uh… I should get back to work. I know you'll be keeping an eye on her, but if anything happens with Gabby, if she-" He cut himself off, grimacing slightly before clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Just call me… if anything happens."

"I will." Casey promised, the detective nodding before holding out his hand towards Matt, the Lieutenant shaking it instantly. "Even if she's okay, I'll still check in with you… Let you know how she's doing."

"Thanks, man." The older Dawson replied as they dropped hands, Antonio continuing towards the exit. But he only got a few more steps before he stopped, the abrupt movement gaining Matt's attention as Antonio turned back around to face him, his features much more relaxed than they had been seconds ago. "...I'm glad she has you, Casey."

The man's sincere words brought a soft smile to Matt's face, Casey giving him a nod before Antonio continued towards the doors to the hallway, but he was stopped again, this time by the firefighter's unsure voice.

"Do you, uh-" He cut himself off, clearing his throat as Antonio looked back at him, his hand resting on the door. "Do you really think he'll leave her alone?" Matt finally asked the question that had been on his mind since Antonio told them about his sentencing, Casey swallowing thickly as the detective took a slow breath. "Once he's out… you think he'll take this seriously and stay away from her?"

Antonio paused thoughtfully for a moment, letting Casey's words wash over him before he responded. "I don't know." He answered truthfully, Matt giving him a hesitant nod. "I hope he does… The bastard got lucky once, I don't know if he's stupid enough to test that again. But he also choked her in a firehouse full of people, so I don't know if a restraining order would be enough to stop him." Antonio breathed out, Casey wincing slightly. "If he knows what's good for him, he'll stay away. But I know his type… I've put away his type, and I know guys like him, they don't stop till they get what they want." Those words caused Matt's spine to straighten, his entire body tensing as the older Dawson shook his head. "The problem is I just don't know exactly what it is he's wanting… Hopefully we'll never find out."

Casey nodded slowly, Antonio's words having done nothing to ease his worries. And truthfully, they'd made him a little more concerned than he already was, Matt's face remaining stoic as the detective pushed the door open.

"I don't know what he'll do once he gets out… But all I do know is that if he tries anything, I-" Antonio cut himself off, his neck clenched tightly as Casey saw the built-up rage coursing through his body. "...I know what you said is true, that the best thing for Gabby is for us to not focus on Walker. But if he even comes close to her again, I can't promise I won't bash his head in." The venomous words dripped from his lips, Matt's gaze focused on the older man as Antonio shook his head. "I don't care what I have to do, I won't let that piece of shit hurt my sister ever again… So if the system can't take care of him, I will."

Casey's gaze stayed locked on the detective as his heavy words hung in the air, Antonio giving him one last goodbye before making his way out of the room, leaving Matt alone as he tried to piece together the extent of what Antonio meant, the firefighter having a pretty good idea of just how serious the man was.

Because despite the fact that he hadn't come out and said it, Casey knew exactly how far the older brother would go for his sister. He knew there'd be no stopping Antonio if Bryan even thought of hurting Gabby again, and Casey couldn't say he didn't understand the impulse to make sure Walker was never able to lay a hand on her again.

He just hoped it would never come to that.

Dawson blew out a tired breath as Shay put the rig in park, the blonde killing the engine before looking towards her friend, seeing the exhaustion written across her face. It was late- pushing midnight, and the paramedics were both ready to get some rest, for as long as they could at least. Their call right after dinner had ended up being quite a long one, then just as they'd about pulled back into the firehouse two hours ago, they were called out again, leaving them away from 51 for the entire evening. And now that they were back, all they wanted was sleep.

As Dawson climbed down from the passenger seat, Shay mimicked her actions, the paramedics getting out of the rig and stretching out their tired bodies. While Dawson came around the front of the ambo, Shay went to shut the garage door, securing them in the house for the night, or at least until they were needed again, before the paramedics made their way towards the double doors.

"Well, that definitely wasn't how I was planning on spending my evening." Shay breathed out, Gabby giving her a nod in agreement as she shoved her hands into her pockets.

"Yeah, me neither." Gabby agreed, the blonde sparing a quick glance towards her friend as they got to the door, Shay biting down on her bottom lip roughly as she thought over her next words. "I'm just ready to lay down."

"Me too." Shay agreed as they stepped inside the firehouse, the blonde knowing she was losing her window if she wanted to try and talk to her friend. "So, uh, how are you doing?" She asked lamely, saying the first words that came to mind as Gabby's steps slowed down, the PIC coming to a complete stop just inside the firehouse as she looked to Shay. "I mean… today was a busy day. Lots of calls and everything, and then your brother…" She trailed off, unsure of how far to press her best friend.

Drawing in a deep breath, Gabby crossed her arms over her chest as she met Shay's gaze, Dawson giving her a soft nod before speaking up. "I'm alright." She responded, Shay eyeing her hesitantly for a moment. "I, uh… I know everyone's worried- that you're worried. But I also know you've been trying to give me space, and I appreciate that. More than you know, I do." She told her, Gabby trying her best to form coherent thoughts. "And, um- I'm not sure if you all heard what Matt and Antonio were talking about today… I know they weren't exactly being quiet…" She trailed off, a sympathetic looking covering Shay's face before she nodded.

"We heard bits and pieces… We weren't trying to eavesdrop, I swear, but Casey…"

"He was upset." Gabby finished for her, Shay taking a slight step closer to her. "He and my brother both were."

"And what about you?" Shay questioned, Gabby taking a deep breath as they locked gazes. "How do you feel about it?" She asked, Dawson thinking over her words for a moment before responding.

"... I'm pissed off, if I'm being honest." She breathed out, a slight frown tugging on the woman's lips as she looked at her friend. "I'm angry, because I feel like he's just getting a warning for abusing me." Shay tried her best to stay stoic, not wanting her reaction to stop Gabby from continuing to open up, but it was hard. Harder than she could've ever imagined to hear those words coming from Dawson's mouth. "Ninety days is nothing… It's nothing compared to what he did to me for years, but I can't do anything about it now…" She spoke firmly, shaking her head before continuing. "I mean, when Antonio told me about the plea deal, I was okay with it because the thought of having to get up and testify to what he did, it- it was too much." She confided to her friend, Shay's eyes shining with sadness as she reached out to place a comforting hand over her arm. "I didn't feel like I could handle it, and I know Matt and Antonio didn't really think I could either, or they at least didn't want to put me in that position, which I get… But now that Bryan accepted it, and I know what's gonna happen to him, I just- I don't know, I feel like he deserved more. I feel like he's getting away with what he did to me." She finished, Gabby shaking her head as her eyes moved down to the ground, Shay squeezing her arm gently as she flashed her a soft smile. "But then there's a part of me that also feels relieved, that it's over at least. That I can start to put it behind me… So, yeah, I guess that's how I'm feeling… I don't know."

Before she could say another word, Shay closed the distance between them, wrapping her partner up in a tight hug as her arms circled around her back. Gabby was initially caught off guard by the action, but soon relaxed into her friend's hold, Dawson holding onto her tightly as they stood in the quiet hallway of the firehouse.

"I'm really sorry, Dawson." Shay murmured, rubbing her hand along her back as Gabby rested her head on her shoulder. "You're right… he does deserve more than what he got. Three months, that's… that's not fair to you. But you know everyone here is on your side, babe. Every single one of us. We're all with you, and we always will be… What he did, he deserved to be locked up for a long time, and I'm so sorry he won't be. I can't imagine what all this has been like for you, but what I do know is that every person in this firehouse has your back, Dawson." Shay told her firmly, squeezing her tighter as she felt Gabby do the same. "And, well Casey's got more than that… but you get what I mean." She added lightly, Gabby scoffing before she pulled back, Shay glad to see a soft smile on her friend's face.

"You just can never help yourself, can you?" Gabby asked, Shay rubbing her back once more pulled they separated, the blonde wrapping her arm around Gabby's shoulders to keep her close.

"It's who I am, babe." Shay replied teasingly, Dawson rolling her eyes before resting her head back down on her shoulder, Shay hooking her arm around the front of Gabby to wrap her back up in a hug. "But, in all seriousness, every single person in this house will do whatever you need us to… I know this is your business, and you've been a little reluctant to come to us, which I completely understand, but what I want to make sure you know is that we've got your back regardless. No matter what." She promised, rubbing her hand along her arm as Gabby nodded against her side.

"Thank you, Shay." She murmured, the blonde smiling softly before pressing a kiss to the top of her friend's head.

"I've always got you, girl." She replied, feeling Gabby give her one last squeeze before they separated, Shay noticing how her partner already seemed a little less on edge than she had been all night.

"I know you do." Dawson responded, Shay flashing her a warm smile before she began walking further down the hallway, Gabby figuring she was heading for bed. "And, uh… I know it's late, and we don't really have to get into all of it right now, but I…" She started, Shay immediately turning back around to face her friend, the blonde seeing the vulnerability in her partner's eyes. "I'm sorry I haven't really come to you… With anything that happened, I just-"

"You don't need to apologize." Shay cut in quickly, but Gabby shook her head.

"I know, but I need you to know it wasn't because of you." Dawson spoke, Shay drawing in a deep breath before nodding, silently telling her to continue. "You've been feeling guilty about what happened, and I don't want you to, because it wasn't your fault. I know we talked a little bit about it the other night, but Matt told me about your talk with him… how you've been feeling about all this, and Shay I don't want you blaming yourself, because it was nothing you did that kept me from saying anything… I didn't want people knowing what was going on, that's why you had no idea." She told her, Shay watching her with sad eyes as she waited for her to keep going. "I… I was embarrassed." Dawson admitted, her eyes moving to the ground as she missed the sympathetic look that covered Shay's face. "I still am embarrassed, that I was in a relationship like that… That I let myself stay in a relationship like that. And then there was a part of me- a big part of me, I guess, that was in denial about what was going on… I didn't think Bryan would ever do that to me, so when it started, I just… I didn't know what to do, and I kind of shut down. I didn't want to believe it." She spoke softly, slowly lifting her head back up just as her partner gave her an understanding nod. "But none of that had anything to do with you… There was a part of me that knew I should've told you, or told someone, but I-" She cut herself off, Gabby swallowing down the emotion building up in her throat before forcing herself to look back at her friend. "I was scared. And confused. And a million other things, and I didn't know what to do… But none of that was because of you."

Before she could get another word out, Shay wrapped her back up in a tight hug, the blonde clinging to her friend desperately as Dawson hugged her back, the blonde whispering comforting words in her ear. Neither of them made any attempt to let go for nearly a minute, Dawson sensing Shay needed this just as much as she did as she continued to assure Gabby that everything was okay, that they were okay.

The partners held onto one another for a few extra seconds before finally letting go, Shay giving her a knowing nod before they continued towards the bunk room, both women knowing there wasn't much else that needed to be said right now. Not when it was after midnight, and they had no idea how long they'd have to sleep.

"Try and get some rest, Dawson." Shay whispered just before they walked into the bunk room, Gabby giving her a silent nod as they saw all the sleeping firefighters around them, the women knowing better than to make much noise as they walked further inside.

While Shay went to her usual bunk, Gabby bypassed hers completely, the PIC walking quietly towards Casey's office, just as she'd done every other night since they'd been back on shift. After her first night back, when Shay had woken her up from her nightmare, Gabby had taken to sleeping in Matt's bed with him, the paramedic feeling more at ease and able to get some rest that way. And while she was aware that the rest of the house, including Boden, knew, no one had said a word to either of them about it, and Casey certainly had no objections to her sharing his bunk either, Gabby slowing her steps when she got to his door as her hand reached out towards the handle. Pushing his door open, she was barely able to see him in the dark room, Gabby stepping inside and quietly closing the door behind her. Blindly making her way towards his bed, Dawson lifted up the blanket and carefully laid down beside him, knowing from experience there wasn't any way for her to complete this task without waking him, though she still tried every time.

But just as she expected, before her head could even get comfortable against his chest, she felt him wrap his arms around her, Matt effectively keeping her close to him as he tiredly pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

"Hi." He murmured as Gabby snuggled into his side, Matt adjusting himself slightly to give her more room, his eyes staying closed as he felt her warmth pressed against his body. "Your calls go okay?"

His voice was hoarse and thick with sleep, Gabby nodding against him as she ran her finger along his collarbone, the woman hiking her leg up over his as his hand settled on her hip underneath the blanket. "They were fine… I'm exhausted, though." She replied just as quietly, Matt nodding before pressing another kiss to the top of her head, the couple relaxing into one another as their tiredness took over.

"Get some sleep." He told her, his calming voice hitting her ears before they fell into a comfortable quiet, Matt's steady breathing quickly lulling her to sleep as her exhaustion grabbed ahold of her, Casey trying his best to stay awake until he was sure she'd fallen asleep, the Lieutenant passing out mere moments later.

Casey stood under the streaming water as he washed all the sawdust and paint off of him, the man hoping to rid himself of the smell of wood as he lathered up with his soap that had been in its rightful spot in Gabby's shower for a while now. He'd had a long few hours on the job, his exhaustion not helped by the busy shift they'd finished up this morning, Matt having gone straight to a construction gig while Gabby came back here to catch up on some rest before she went out to lunch with her parents, the two missing each other as she'd been long gone by the time he got back.

As soon as he got home, Casey immediately hopped into the shower, the man wanting to decompress a bit after his hectic morning. But while he held his face directly under the warm water, he wasn't able to relax much at all as he couldn't help his thoughts from going back to his girlfriend, her recent demeanor over the past few days having thrown him for a bit of a loop.

It had been a little over a week since Antonio showed up to the firehouse, telling them of Walker's plea deal, and since then, there had been a complete shift in Gabby's attitude towards this entire situation. Where he'd expected things to be up and down, Matt assuming she'd have moments of anger, or times where everything became too much and she couldn't handle it, neither of those things had really happened. At least not nearly as much as he was expecting. Instead, it had kind of been the opposite, like she was slowly returning to her old self with each passing day.

It was a shift he hadn't been counting on, but one he was grateful for as Gabby was starting to act like the woman he recognized. Whether it was with him, or with her brother, or with the house, more and more she just seemed like the same old Gabby. She'd been in a good mood- a great mood, some days, and had been more openly relaxed and carefree. And he had to admit, it had taken him by surprise.

He'd first noticed it the morning after they found out about Walker. When they woke up in his office before the end of shift, she'd told him about her talk with Shay the night before, and in that moment when she was recanting what her and her friend talked about, that was the first time in a while where he'd seen her look content. He remembered it so vividly because he'd been so surprised by it. But in that instance, she'd seemed okay. And every day that had passed since then, she seemed to be regaining more and more of her old self.

Casey knew a part of her was still angry. That she was upset over Walker's jail time, or lack thereof, and there was some of her that was still holding onto a bit of resentment towards that. But other than those few moments where it would come up, and she couldn't hold back her true feelings, she was doing alright. To him, it seemed like every day, her anger was slowly starting to fade. That she wasn't letting it consume her, and she was gradually trying to move on with her life, like she had come to terms with what happened and the situation. And while he was happy about that, there was a part of him that was a little weary… He knew he told Antonio that she just needed time, that once she had a moment to digest the news, she'd eventually be okay, but her shift in attitude had happened so quickly, he didn't know what to make of it. He couldn't help but feel like this was all a front she was putting up for him, and for everyone else, and that one day here soon that facade would crumble, and so would she.

He was worried that she wasn't dealing with it, that she was doing what he'd known her to do in the past and she was ignoring her feelings towards all of it. That she was running away instead of letting herself work through what this all meant. There was a small part of him that was worried that's what this was, and he'd be lying if he said he hadn't found himself just waiting for her to crack.

But he hoped and prayed that the small voice in the back of his head was wrong. That he was just over-worrying, and being protective of her after all she'd gone through. He desperately wanted this to be real, for her to actually be okay, and that things were slowly getting better. It had been so nice to see her acting more like herself, to see her so open and slowly regaining that spark in her eyes that Walker had taken from her. These past few days, she'd been happier than he'd seen her in a while, and he hoped it was genuine. That she wasn't just faking it for his sake, or for her family, that she truly was feeling better about this entire thing. Because more than anything, he just wanted her to be alright, he needed her to be alright, and so far she'd given him no reason to think she wasn't. It was nothing but his own concerns making him think there might be more behind her sudden shift in attitude. And they were concerns he was desperately trying to mask, until he was given some reason not to.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoing through the bathroom pulled Casey from his thoughts, the man moving his face out from under the steady stream of water as he turned to see Gabby walking towards him, her figure a bit blurry through the fogged glass.

"Hey baby." He greeted, Gabby smiling softly before she crouched down to untie her boots. "How were your parents?"

"They were good." She replied, her voice a bit muffled as her head was still turned towards the ground while she completed her task. "They missed you, though. Said we could've rescheduled so you would've been able to make it." Gabby added, Matt shaking his head slightly as he rinsed the soap out of his hair.

"We can all get together another time, maybe we can do dinner or something soon." He offered, his eyebrows raising slightly as he watched her kick off her boots before her hands moved towards her shirt, Gabby peeling the tight material from her body and tossing it to the floor. "I'm just glad you were able to spend some time with them."

"Me too." She agreed as her hands moved towards her pants, Gabby unbuttoning them before sliding the material down her legs and kicking them off. "Maybe here in the next few days, we can all go out to eat. I think they'd like that." She continued, Matt's eyes trailing over her form as she stood there in her underwear, Gabby catching his stares as she lifted her arm up to release her hair from its loose ponytail. "Need something?" She asked with a knowing gleam in her eye, Matt cocking his head to the side before finding her gaze.

"Just wondering what you were doing…" He mused lightly, his words earning a scoff from her before she reached around her back to unclasp her bra, the material hanging loosely off her chest.

"I thought you might want some company." She replied simply, Matt's tongue running along the inside of his cheek when she dropped her bra to the ground, Gabby soon slipping out of her underwear as well, leaving her completely bare as she opened the shower door, giving Matt an unobstructed view of the body he knew so well. "And besides, it's been awhile since we've done this." She replied with a slight smirk, Matt drawing in a deep breath as she closed the door behind her.

She was right, it had been awhile since they'd had any fun together in the shower, let alone had any fun together at all. They hadn't been together in awhile, not since before Bryan attacked her, and he'd be lying through his teeth if he said he didn't miss being with her. But it wasn't exactly something that was high on his list of priorities. With as worried as he'd been lately, Matt's main, and really only focus, was to make sure Gabby was alright. And because of that, sex just hadn't been on his mind much these days.

But if the look in Gabby's eyes was any indication, it had definitely been on hers.

"How was your job?" She asked, her soft voice gaining his attention as she reached around him for her soap, the water falling down in between them as her body was mere inches away from his.

"It was good." He replied, stepping out of the way slightly so she had room. "I'm tired, but it wasn't too bad."

"...Hopefully not too tired to go out?" She questioned when he finished speaking, Matt's eyebrows furrowing together as Gabby focused her attention on him, knowing he needed more to go on. "Shay called me earlier while you were working, said everyone was gonna meet up at Molly's tonight… I figured it'd be fun." She told him with a smile, Gabby seeing the look of hesitance that flashed in his eyes.

"That sounds great, baby, but… you sure you're up for that?" He asked, the woman nodding immediately. It wasn't something they had done since this all happened, Matt and Gabby having been keeping to mostly staying at either his home or hers if they weren't at work, Casey a little weary of her doing too much too soon.

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" She asked, Matt wincing slightly as he pursed his lips together, Gabby's eyes falling closed for a split second as she released a heavy sigh. "...Matt, I'm okay." She assured him, just as she done often over the last week, Gabby lifting her head back up to meet his gaze, his unsure eyes still focused on her.

"I'm worried about you." He murmured, watching as she smacked her lips together before reaching out to wrap her arms around his neck, the position naturally pulling them closer together.

"I know you are… And I get it, I know why everyone's worried about me, I know why you're worried, but I promise, I'm alright." She assured him, Matt's hands naturally gravitating towards her hips as he pulled her against him, their naked bodies pressed closer together than they'd been in weeks. "This Bryan thing, it- … I don't want to let it control me. I've had enough of him controlling me. Right now, he's in jail. I wish it was for longer, and I know you do, too, but we can't change that. And once he's out, if he's stupid enough to try anything he'll go right back in there… So I'm choosing to focus on that, instead of being scared or upset or angry all the time. I'm trying to move past it, but I need your help to do that." She murmured, stroking her thumb along the back of his neck. "It's like you've been telling everyone at the firehouse, the best thing they can do for me is to treat me normally…" She added, seeing the look of realization that flickered in his eyes. "I need you to do that too, babe."

Drawing in a deep breath, Matt nodded in agreement, giving her a soft smile as he focused on the feeling of her fingers rubbing along his neck. "Yeah, I guess you're right…" He breathed out, Gabby tilting her head to the side slightly as she grazed her fingernails along his hairline.

"And it would also help if you maybe looked at me like I was your girlfriend once in a while, and not like someone who you're waiting for them to have a breakdown." She told him, Matt ducking his head as a sheepish look covered his face, Gabby sliding her hand around towards his cheek, rubbing the wet skin softly.

"...Have I really been that noticeable?" He asked quietly, Gabby's noise scrunching up slightly as she gave him a nod.

"You have." She replied as she continued to scratch his neck, Matt blowing out a heavy breath as he slid his hands along her sides.

"I'm sorry, I'm not meaning to be so… overbearing, I guess."

"You're not… You're worried about me, and I love you for it, but I'm okay… If something's wrong, I'd come to you, but I can tell you've been hesitant around me, and I don't want you to be. You don't need to be." She assured him, nudging his cheek gently so he would look her in the eye. "You've been so good to me through this entire thing, and so understanding, but I don't want this thing to become all our relationship is, is you constantly worrying and waiting for something bad to happen." She told him, Matt getting the feeling that she'd been holding onto these feelings for a few days as he gave her a nod. "I miss just being with my boyfriend… I miss you, and us"

Gabby paused for a moment to take a breath, her words hanging in the steamy air around them, Matt thinking over everything she'd just told him, the man knowing she had a point. Drawing in a deep breath, he felt her brush her hand over his cheek yet again, the action causing him to look back at her.

"I know this Bryan thing will never go away… It'll always be a part of me, and us. We can't pretend like it didn't happen, and I already know they'll be days that are worse than others when it comes to how I'm feeling about all of this… But right now, I'm okay. I'm okay, and I want you to be okay, too. I want us to be okay… I want us to feel like us again."

"I want that, too." He agreed almost instantly, Gabby's smile growing as he slid his hands around to her back, pressing her chest into his as he closed what was left of the distance between them, capturing her lips in a heated kiss. The action caught her off guard, Matt not having kissed her like this in a while. But she soon regained herself, Gabby giving just as much back to him as she slowly maneuvered them towards the wall, Matt jumping slightly when his wet skin made contact with the cold tile.

He could feel the neediness in her movements, Gabby's hands digging into his skin as she pressed herself into him, the feeling of her against him causing a low groan to escape from deep within his chest, Matt feeling her smirk against him before she dropped her hand from his neck. Without much warning, she pushed off him slightly and reached in between them, Matt's breath hitching in his throat when she grabbed a hold of him, her firm grip sending a chill through his spine as she slowly moved her hand.

"Gabby... Are you sure?" He asked in between kisses, needing the confirmation before this went any further, Gabby trailing her lips down to his neck, expertly marking his skin as she picked up the pace of her fist.

"I want to… I miss you." She murmured against him just before she grazed her teeth over his collarbone, Matt needing no more assurance than that as he carefully turned them around so her back was pressed against the wall. Her body shivered at the change in temperature, his hands beginning to roam her skin in ways they hadn't in far too long as she kept up her quick, short movements over him, the pair determined to enjoy their time together for as long as they could.

"Otis! Another one!"

Gabby's loud voice came from across the crowded room, Matt's amused eyes immediately finding her and Shay in the middle of the bar, the two having been hanging off one another all night as they drank and let loose.

The second he registered her voice, Otis spared a glance towards Casey, almost like he was checking to make sure if it was time to cut her off or not. But Matt simply shrugged, nodding off towards Dawson.

"Don't look at me, you heard the lady." Matt replied, Otis giving him a nod before walking down towards Dawson and Shay, Casey's smile growing when he looked back towards Gabby. With his eyes on his girlfriend, he didn't notice the way Herrmann's gaze kept bouncing back and forth between himself and Gabby. It wasn't until the older man cleared his throat that Matt tore his attention away from the woman across the bar, Casey raising his eyebrows when he saw Herrmann's expectant eyes on him. "...Yeah?"

"How, uh… how's everything going, Lieutenant?" He asked, his eyes flashing back towards Dawson, Matt following his gaze back towards his girlfriend as well.

Herrmann, along with everyone else, had noticed the shift in Gabby's attitude as well over the last few shifts. And he, just like the rest of the house, had been a little skeptical of it, too.

"Things are good." Matt replied before downing a long sip of his water, Herrmann giving him a nod before speaking up again.

"Dawson seems, um, spirited, tonight." He pushed, Matt clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he looked back at his girlfriend, seeing her and Shay downing their umpteenth shot of the evening.

"Yeah, she definitely is." Casey replied with a chuckle, shaking his head before looking to Herrmann.

"Is everything okay there? I mean, she's still doing alright?" He questioned, Matt hearing the clear concern in his voice. The same concern he'd had hours earlier, Casey giving him another strong nod, hoping to appease his worries.

"She's good, Herrmann. Everything's fine… She's just having a night to decompress, and have some fun. I think after everything she's gone through, it's warranted."

"Well, I agree with you there." Herrmann replied, tossing the white bar rag over his shoulder. "I just wanted to be sure… With Dawson, sometimes it's hard to know what's going on in that head of hers."

"I definitely know what you mean, but she's alright… I promise. All of this, it's been a lot, but she's getting through it… Getting better every day."

"Good, good." He mused, his attention getting pulled away from Casey as he saw a clearly drunk Dawson making her way over to them, Matt turning just in time for her to crash her lips into his.

The taste of alcohol was prominent, Gabby kissing him long and hard as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her body resting in between his legs as Matt's hand instinctively moved to her waist. The man was stunned, to say the least, by her sudden presence by his side, but he wasn't complaining as she deepened the kiss, their public display of affection gaining a few whistles from different patrons around them.

While he'd been on the receiving end of her drunken kisses before, this one felt a little different, Gabby clearly having no care in the world as she tightened her hold on him, the two only separating when it became absolutely necessary. Matt sucked in air as soon as he could, Gabby pulling back far enough to meet his eyes as her chest heaved up and down, the two completely oblivious to the stares around them as they focused on one another.

"You seem like you're having a good time." Casey spoke in between breaths, Gabby smirking softly as she ran her finger lightly along the back of his neck before she leaned towards him, the woman pressing a much tamer kiss against him before trailing her lips back across his cheek, her heavy breaths hitting his skin as she grazed her teeth over his ear.

"I am…" She whispered, Matt running his teeth along his bottom lip as she darted her tongue out over his skin. "And you and I are gonna be having an even better time later." She added softly, her words only audible to him as he tightened his hold around her waist, a soft smirk gracing his lips as he steadied his girl in his arms.

"Is that so?" He murmured back, Gabby giggling in his ear before nodding, the woman pressing another kiss to his skin just as she pulled back, his eyes locking on her hazy ones. It was clear she was well past drunk, that she'd accomplished her goal of having a fun night out with her friends, and in her alcohol induced state, she definitely wasn't shy around him. And while he was sure she meant exactly what she said, he knew they wouldn't be having any of the type of fun she was talking about tonight, Matt having no other plans for this evening aside from getting her home safely.

"Mhmm…" She hummed, Gabby's bottom lip falling between her teeth as Matt rubbed his hand along her back. "But not yet, Shay's waiting for me." She added, Matt moving his head back slightly at the suddenly loud volume of her voice, Gabby unaware of how loud she was talking as she rubbed her hand along the back of his neck. "So hopefully you can have some fun with Herrmann for a little while longer, I love you, baby."

With one last sloppy kiss, Gabby made her way back over to Shay, Matt shaking his head in amusement as she apologized to every person she stumbled into along the way, Casey making sure she'd safely made it back to her friend before he allowed himself to look away, the man knowing he'd have to be keeping a close eye on her for the rest of the night.

And he definitely had, Casey keeping track of her over the next few hours as they closed the bar down, Gabby having had her fair share of fun this evening with her friends and boyfriend. And while her heavy drinking pace had definitely surprised him a little, he knew she needed this. A night out with her friends, in a place where she felt safe to just let go and have some fun, he knew this was probably one of the best things for her right now. And with him here to make sure she was okay, he had no issues with her letting off as much steam as she needed to.

But the night eventually came to an end, Severide all but dragging an equally drunken Shay to his car while Matt managed to get Gabby to come with him, the man thankful he didn't have too much trouble getting his girlfriend to his truck. And just as he expected, seconds after he'd gotten her into the vehicle, she was out, Gabby having slept the entire drive back to her apartment.

For as easy as it had been to get her from Molly's, getting her inside her home was not as simple, Matt basically supporting the entirety of her body weight by the time they got to her front door while Gabby had her arms wrapped around his neck, her tired body attached to his side as he unlocked her door.

"Alright, come on sleepyhead." He encouraged as he walked into the apartment, Gabby groaning as he got them inside, Matt making sure they were clear of the door before he shut it behind them, the man locking it into place before walking her further into her dark home.

Luckily, the further into her apartment they got, the more Gabby started to recognize her surroundings, the woman breaking free of Matt's secure grip and heading straight for her bedroom, Casey taking the moment to stop in the kitchen and grab a glass of water and some aspirin, knowing she'd need both of those things in the morning.

When he met up with her in her bedroom, a soft chuckle escaped his lips as he saw she was already shedding herself from her clothes, Gabby having removed her shirt and she was currently working on her pants as she stood in the middle of her bedroom. Shaking his head slightly, Matt placed the glass and medicine down on the nightstand before moving towards the windows to quickly close the curtains, Casey unsure of how much longer it would be before she'd completely stripped down.

"Come on, let's get you into bed." He spoke as he walked back towards her, Gabby mumbling something incoherently under her breath as she began working on getting her bra off, Matt stopping by her dresser to grab one of his t-shirts for her to sleep in before coming to stand in front of her. Clad in just her underwear, Gabby haphazardly reached for the piece of clothing, Matt biting back a laugh as he watched her struggle with the material before eventually getting it on over her head. As the shirt fell down over her, Matt couldn't help but reach out and brush down some of her unruly hair, Gabby leaning into his touch as her tired eyes fell closed, the two focusing on their quiet moment before she looked back up at him.

Without a word, she took a step forward, capturing his lips in a soft, slow kiss, Matt smiling into the movement before he kissed her back, Gabby pulling away far too quickly for his liking.

But when he opened his eyes, he was surprised to see hers still closed, Gabby standing there as she took deep breaths, Matt not knowing what she was doing as she held onto his wrist tightly. "...Thank you." She murmured suddenly, his confusion written across his face as she slowly opened her eyes, Matt seeing the glazed over look in her gaze as she stared straight at him, Casey not getting the chance to question her before she spoke up again. "Thank you for not being him."

His eyebrows furrowed as the vulnerable words left her lips, Matt seeing the unmistakable sign of tears gathering in her eyes as she stared at him, the man unsure of what to say. But she never gave him the chance to respond, Gabby giving his wrist a firm squeeze before dropping his hand and moving towards her bed, Matt watching her as she moved back the covers and nearly collapsed into his side of the bed, Gabby curling up into his pillow and falling asleep almost instantly as she left her confused and worried boyfriend standing there in the middle of the room.