Hello everyone! Here's the next chapter for you all. I wanna say a quick apology for the chapter being a day late this week. I know I told you all last week the chapter would likely be posted later than usual, but I still just want to say sorry for that. I tried to get it done early, but I wasn't able to. But hopefully this one was worth the little extra wait.
There is a Rated M section in this chapter, just so you all know.
I hope you enjoy! Thank you for reading.
FIFTY NINE
Gabby tapped her pen against the stack of papers in front of her, her mind a thousand miles away as she stood at the nurses station at Lakeshore, her eyes staring off into space as her attention was anywhere but the world around her. She'd forced herself to keep focus on call, the PIC knowing well enough that it didn't matter what was going on with her; when she was out there, she couldn't let things in her personal life affect her. But now that their patient had been dropped off, and she'd had time to let her mind wander, she had done just that, Gabby barely having gotten a word written down on the papers underneath her arm, the sound of the constant tapping filling her head as her mind flooded with the conversation she'd had with her boyfriend just a little over an hour ago now.
The conversation that had completely blindsided her.
"Earth to Dawson." Shay spoke up, the blonde having just come back from a lengthy chat with Kendra after her partner assured her she could handle the paperwork. But when Shay approached her, and saw the paramedic completely lost in thought, with not a single thing written down, she knew something was going on with the PIC.
And she knew it most definitely had to do with Casey.
Though Gabby hadn't filled her in on much of the conversation with her brother from their last call, she knew Matt had been the topic of that discussion, and that he'd done something he shouldn't have. Something he hadn't told Gabby about. But what he'd done, she wasn't sure. All she knew was that whatever it was, it had completely shifted Gabby's demeanor, her previously bright and happy partner now clearly upset.
"Dawson." Shay tried again when Gabby hadn't noticed her, the woman's eyes snapping into focus as she looked towards her partner, Dawson's eyebrows rising when she realized Shay had been staring at her.
"Sorry, what'd you say?" She questioned, Shay's eyes narrowing slightly as they flickered towards the unfinished paperwork, the blonde taking a deep breath before finding Gabby's gaze.
"...You need me to finish that?" She asked back, side stepping Dawson's question as Gabby glanced down to the papers underneath her arm.
"Oh, uh- No, I can do it. It's fine." She replied, Shay giving her a nod before Gabby returned her attention to the work she needed to do before they could head back to the station.
But even though Dawson had started to work on their paperwork, it was still clear to the blonde that her friend wasn't really here, Gabby quickly scrawling out the necessary notes onto the paper, the PIC not doing her work with nearly as much precision as she normally did. But regardless of her tense and slightly unsteady demeanor, Shay said nothing, the paramedic knowing now wasn't the time, and definitely not the place to interrogate her friend as to what had happened between her and the truck Lieutenant.
Releasing a heavy sigh, Gabby handed over the completed papers to the nurse before the medics began to leave, the women pushing out their gurney out to the ambulance in silence, the two of them getting it put back in the rig before moving to their respective seats. Neither of them said a word as Shay started up the engine and began heading back towards the house, Gabby's gaze focused out the window as her hands were clasped together in her lap, the PIC not missing the continuous glances from her partner while she drove.
"Alright, out with it." Shay spoke up after they'd been driving for over five minutes, the silence around them nearly suffocating as Gabby looked her way, seeing the expectant look covering Shay's face. "What did he do?" She continued when the PIC stayed silent, Shay clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth.
"It's nothing, Shay-"
"Clearly it's something." She countered as they came to a stoplight. "You wouldn't be so… not like Dawson if it was nothing. And I tried to leave it alone, I know you didn't really wanna talk about it earlier, but clearly whatever he did is bothering you." She spoke pointedly, her words causing Gabby to draw in a slow, deep breath as her eyes focused forward. "So what is it? … What did lover boy do?"
Shay started driving again when the light changed, the blonde staying quiet while she waited for Gabby to speak up, the woman knowing there was nothing else she could say to get Dawson to talk; she just had to wait for her to want to.
But it took Dawson longer than anticipated to speak up, the PIC remaining quiet as Shay pulled onto the driveway and into the garage, the paramedic putting the rig in park before turning her attention towards her friend. Gabby was fidgeting in her seat slightly, ambulance 61 hidden behind the rest of the rigs as the two of them stayed put, Shay willing to wait for however long it took for Dawson to open up.
"...He went to see Bryan."
Shay's eyebrows raised quickly, the words taking her by surprise as Gabby watched her closely, the blonde needing a few seconds to digest what her friend told her.
"I- ... Why?" She questioned, Gabby pursing her lips together before releasing a heavy sigh.
"I don't know… We didn't really get that far." She breathed out, Shay nodding as she waited for her to continue. "All I know is he said he went to tell Bryan to leave me alone," She spoke, Shay's eyebrows furrowing in confusion, "I guess he has kept asking to see me-"
"Kept?" She interrupted, Dawson seeing the confusion covering her partner's face, Gabby soon understanding that Shay had no idea what she was talking about, the PIC clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth before she spoke up.
"Bryan asked to see me." She replied, Shay's eyebrows furrowing together tightly. "Or, he's been asking a few times to see me, I guess. But I didn't know it had happened more than once… Antonio told me at Matt's birthday party." She explained, earning a slight nod from her friend.
"Why didn't you say anything?"
Gabby shrugged slightly as she moved her gaze back out the windshield, the woman taking a deep breath before responding. "Because I wasn't going to see him, so I didn't think it mattered." She spoke softly, Shay not missing the slight wince that covered her face.
"Okay." She replied gently, knowing how difficult of a subject this was for her friend, Gabby giving her a nod before clearing her throat.
"Yeah, so, uh- Bryan was asking to see me, and Matt went to tell him to leave me alone." She reiterated, Dawson clenching her neck as she shook her head slightly. "Though, if I had to guess, that probably wasn't all he said."
"Yeah, I doubt it." Shay agreed, straightening out her back slightly before the next words fell off the tip of her tongue before she could stop them. "But good for Casey."
Gabby's head turned back towards her, Shay swallowing thickly before meeting her friend's gaze, finding a slightly uncertain look covering the PIC's face. "Shay…"
"What?" She questioned, knowing they were diving into somewhat murky waters. "If I had to guess, I'd say Casey went there to defend you… To tell Walker to shove it. And probably more than that. So good for him." She continued, Gabby releasing another heavy sigh as her eyes moved forward, the woman staying silent while Shay kept her gaze on her, it nearly impossible to miss Dawson's tense demeanor.
"He shouldn't have gone, Shay." She replied shortly, the blonde's gaze narrowing slightly in uncertainty.
"Is that what all this is about?" She questioned, Gabby smacking her lips together as she looked down towards her lap. "You're mad at him for protecting you?"
The second those words left the blonde's lips, Dawson couldn't help but scoff, the woman shaking her head as the muscles in her back tensed. "He didn't need to protect me. Bryan's behind bars-"
"For now." Shay interjected, Gabby slowly lifting her head and meeting her partner's gaze. "He's behind bars for now. But here soon, he won't be." She continued, Shay not missing the look of apprehension that quickly flickered in Dawson's eyes. "He'll be out, free to do whatever he wants… You can't blame Matt for worrying about that." She spoke carefully, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip as she thought over her friend's words. "He worries about you, Gabby. Especially when it comes to Walker, and clearly, that asshole wants something… I can't see any world where Casey would be okay with that." Shay said, pausing for a split second to see if Gabby was going to say something, but the brunette stayed quiet, the paramedic sighing softly before speaking up once more. "Honey, Matt would do anything to keep you safe, you know that… You can't really be all that surprised he went-"
"He lied to me, Shay." Dawson cut in, her voice barely audible, but it was enough to stop the blonde from continuing, Shay drawing in a deep breath before pursing her lips together. "He lied right to my face, multiple times, with something that I deserved to know about…"
"So you're mad that he lied, not that he went." She searched for clarification, Gabby running her tongue along her teeth as she shook her head.
"I'm not mad, I'm just-"
"Upset." She finished for her, Dawson taking a slow breath, knowing she didn't need to verbally confirm her friend's words, Shay's face softening as she reached out to run her hand along Gabby's arm.
"...I just wish he didn't lie about it." Gabby continued quietly, "I know you're right, that Matt just wants to protect me, but that doesn't excuse the fact that he lied to me… That he went days without saying anything, and that I had to find out from my brother that he went to go talk to Bryan. He should've told me." She spoke, her voice getting rougher by the second. "He shouldn't be keeping things from me, but this especially… He had no right to not tell me about this."
"You're right." Shay agreed, Gabby continuing to take slow breaths as Shay squeezed her arm supportively. "You're completely right… No matter why he went, he shouldn't have lied. And you have every right to be upset about that, but you know Casey, babe… He'd never intentionally try and hurt you." She reasoned, Dawson drawing in a slow breath as she hunched forward in her seat, Shay's comforting hand finding its way to Gabby's back. "That man loves you more than anything, Dawson. I'm not saying he was right to keep this from you, that doesn't excuse it, but maybe you should talk to him… Try and figure out why he did what he did."
Gabby gave her a slow nod, Shay patting her back before she reached for her door handle, Dawson lifting her head slightly to find her gaze, the blonde waiting for her with a supportive smile.
"Listen, you be as mad, or as upset with him as you want… But at least go talk to him, and soon. If anything just so you know why he didn't tell you." She reiterated, her words earning one last nod from the PIC before both women climbed down from their rigs, Dawson wiping her clammy hands on her pants as they continued towards the firehouse.
As they walked around the rigs, they found most of the members of squad seated at their table, Severide leaned back in his chair reading the paper as Shay went up to him and sat on the table beside him, the firefighter lifting his head up when he noticed her presence.
"Hey, how was the call?" He asked, Shay shrugging softly as Gabby's eyes danced around the garage.
"Fine, nothing too serious." She replied, Severide nodding in response.
"Kelly, do you know where Casey is?" Dawson spoke up, the Lieutenant turning his attention away from his best friend to look at the PIC, Gabby standing a few feet away from them, the firefighter noticing her strange demeanor instantly.
"Uh, last I knew, he was in his office." Kelly replied, Gabby offering him a thankful nod before she took off for the far set of double doors, the paramedic figuring it best to avoid the common room altogether right now as she headed inside, not noticing how both Shay and Severide were staring at her as she went.
"What's going on there?" Kelly spoke up once she'd disappeared through the doors, Shay huffing out a breath before glancing back towards the other members of squad, the men doing their best to pretend like they weren't listening in, even though the paramedic knew they were.
"Your buddy Casey," She started, the woman lowering her voice as she spoke, "He messed up… Lied to Dawson." She spoke vaguely, the squad Lieutenant's eyebrows furrowing as he quickly came to realize there was definitely a story there, but one that probably couldn't be told to him right now.
Inside the firehouse, Gabby navigated her way through the hallways of 51 as she headed for the bunkroom, the paramedic stepping inside the quiet room. From first glance, she could tell the room was empty, aside from her boyfriend in his office, Gabby's tongue poking out between her teeth as she continued towards his partially closed door. But as she got closer, her steps slowed down when she realized he was on the phone, the firefighter leaned against the edge of his desk with his legs crossed in front of him, his palm lifted up against his cheek as she heard his soft voice filtering out into the room through the small space left between the door and its frame.
But without even knowing who he was talking to, Gabby immediately knew this couldn't have been a pleasant phone call, the girlfriend recognizing how tense his entire body was, how his back was curved forward slightly, his stance telling her all she needed to know about how unwelcome this conversation was.
"I really don't even know why you're calling me." She heard, her eyebrows knitting together tightly as she reached out for the handle, Gabby momentarily forgetting about her reason for coming to see him when she heard the tone in his voice.
When she opened the door, she could tell she'd startled him, despite the fact she'd done it as slowly as possible, Matt jumping slightly before his spine straightened, Gabby not missing the rigid look on his face when he looked up, though it softened instantly when he saw it was her standing in front of him. Drawing in a deep breath, he nodded her in, Gabby stepping completely inside the small room before closing the door behind her as Matt continued speaking to whoever was on the other end of the line.
"Listen, can we do this later? I'm at work." He breathed out, Gabby sensing his obvious frustration at this person, her eyebrows furrowing as she moved to stand across from him, crossing her arms over her chest as she rested her weight down against his bed frame. "I know, I will-" He spoke shortly before sighing, "I promise… Yeah, uh- You too. Bye." He finished, Matt quickly bringing his phone down from his ear and ending the call before looking up towards his girlfriend, the man tossing his phone down onto the desk as he met her gaze.
Neither of them said a word for a few moments, Matt unsure of where her head was at after how they left things earlier in the day, though he could only hope that her coming and seeking him out was a good thing, the man watching as she chewed on her bottom lip, clearly thinking over whatever was going through her mind.
"Who was that?" She spoke up, Matt's eyebrows furrowing slightly, the man a little thrown by the question before he shook his head slightly.
"It was nothing." He replied with a shrug, Gabby giving him an unimpressed look as her eyes narrowed slightly, Matt releasing a heavy sigh before his hand came up to rub along the back of his neck.
"Matt."
"It was my mom." He gave in, not missing the varying emotions that played over her face before she landed on surprise, Gabby's eyes flickering back towards the phone sitting behind him before she found his gaze once more.
"Is everything okay?" She questioned, her concern evident as her arms fell down to her sides, Gabby's hands gripping onto the bed frame beneath her as Matt gave her a quick nod.
"She's fine I guess, just wanted to talk." He replied lamely, Gabby watching him closely while he spoke. "She uh, wished me a happy birthday… Or a happy belated birthday, I guess." He told her, noticing the slight frown that pulled on her lips. "She called a few minutes ago, I didn't really get to the bottom of whatever she wanted, but she said she wanted to see me." He finished, Casey not wanting to leave anything out, especially considering how he'd already lied to her once.
"Are you going to?" She asked, Casey running his tongue along the roof of his mouth as he thought over her question.
"I don't know… I feel like I should. So probably, yeah." He responded, Gabby straightening her spine before she nodded.
"You didn't have to end the call because of me, you know." She told him, Matt's head falling to the side slightly. "It's been awhile since you two have talked."
"It's okay, I'd rather talk to you, anyway." He played it off, Gabby pursing her lips together as she shot him a knowing look.
"Matt…"
"It's fine, babe. Really." He promised her, his tone more serious than before, Dawson sucking in a deep breath. "I'll call her back later, figure out what she's wanting." He added with a soft smile, Gabby eyeing him skeptically before she gave him a nod, the firefighter drawing in a slow breath as the air around them shifted, that heavy feeling that had been present before her call settling back around them as they locked eyes on one another. "And, uh, I know you and I need to talk, too." He spoke, her eyes moving down to the floor in between them before she gave him a nod.
"Yeah, we do." She responded quietly, Matt sucking in a sharp breath as he waited to see if she was going to continue. But when she didn't, Casey released the air he'd just breathed in, the man pushing himself up off the desk and walking the short distance to her, Gabby's eyes raising from the floor as he came to stand directly in front of her, the soft look in his eyes calming her despite the situation.
"I'm really sorry, Gabby." He spoke quietly, a flash of regret flickering in his gaze as he reached his hands out to grip her arms, his warm palms sending an involuntary shiver through her spine. "Really, I am… I wish I could tell you just how sorry I am, but I hate lying to you. I didn't want to, I just…" He trailed off, rubbing her arm gently as her head tilted to the side slightly, their eyes never leaving one another.
"Why did you?" She questioned after a pause of silence, Matt taking another deep breath as she spoke up again. "Why didn't you tell me you were going? Why didn't you tell me afterwards?" She repeated her same questions from earlier, Matt rubbing his thumb over her skin as her uncertain eyes focused on him.
From her tone alone, he could tell she wasn't angry. That her earlier words had been true; she wasn't mad at him. But he knew he hurt her, and to him, that was worse.
Taking a steadying breath, Matt slowly took a step back before gently grabbed a hold of her arm, pulling on her body lightly to prompt her to stand up, the woman complying easily as he led them to his bunk. The couple sat down together on his bed, their knees brushing against one another's as her hands fell into her lap, Gabby waiting patiently for whatever explanation he had as to why he handled this the way he did.
"I should've told you before I went," He started, Matt reaching out to rest his hand over her leg, Gabby keeping her eyes on him as he focused down on her lap, "I know that. I should've asked you before I did anything, I never should've gone before I knew how you felt about it… I messed up the second I decided to go and didn't say anything, I know that." Casey told her, the paramedic nodding slightly as he took a slow breath. "And if I could go back, I'd probably do things differently, but I just… It makes me so angry." He spoke roughly, Matt forcing himself to meet her eyes, immediately seeing her confusion before he continued. "How he wouldn't stop asking to see you, how he obviously wants something from you… After everything he did to you, it just made me furious, and I felt like I needed to go and put a stop to it. But I knew how you felt… I know you didn't want to see him, and I was afraid that if I told you I was wanting to go, you'd tell me not to… And I wouldn't have, I swear to you I wouldn't have gone if you asked me not to, but I just- I was so mad, and I felt like I had to go and tell him to back off." He rambled, Matt getting everything off his chest as Gabby listened to his every word, the woman nodding slightly at him to keep going, Casey shaking his head slightly before he reached for her hand, Dawson offering it willingly. "But it was stupid. And it wasn't fair to you… You come first, always. But especially with this. I let my anger at him get in the way of that, and I'm sorry. I never should've lied to you." He finished, the firefighter exhaling a sharp breath after the last word left his lips, Gabby pursing her lips together in deep thought as silence surrounded them, Matt giving her however long she needed to process what all he'd told her in such a short amount of time.
But clearly, she didn't need long as Gabby looked back up at him after barely a minute had gone by, the two locking eyes before she spoke up. "I… I get why you did it." She said, Matt's eyebrows raising slightly, his girlfriend not at all reacting the way he expected, but he said nothing as she continued. "I'll be honest, I don't know what I would've said if you came to me and told me you wanted to go visit Bryan… But I know you were just looking out for me, so I can see why you went, and I can almost see why you didn't tell me first, but I don't understand why you didn't say anything after." She spoke, the slight edge of hurt in her voice sending a sharp pain through his chest. "It's been two days, Matt, and you said nothing… Why didn't you tell me after you went?"
"I was going to." He replied the second she finished, Gabby running her tongue along her bottom lip as he gave her hand a slight squeeze. "After I saw Antonio at the prison, I was gonna come home, or go to my old place, and tell you… But then Shay was there, and I knew this was a conversation that needed to be just us, so I figured I'd wait until we got home. But we didn't really have a change then, either, with Shay staying most of the day, and how tired we were- I know it's not a good excuse." He cut himself off when he saw the disapproving look on her face. "It's not, I know that. I still should've told you, but in my head it made sense. It just didn't seem like a good time, so I decided to wait and tell you the next morning." He explained the best he could, Matt waiting for a slight nod from Gabby before continuing. "But then that morning, you left before I was even really awake, and I didn't see you again until we were at Shay and Severide's last night, and there just… There wasn't a good moment for me to tell you. There was never a good time, but I was going to tell you…"
"When?" She asked, her voice quiet and un-accusatory, Matt drawing in a deep breath before responding.
"Tomorrow after shift." He replied, not missing the hesitant look that flashed in her eyes, Matt shaking his head quickly as he knew exactly what was going on in her mind. "I know that sounds like a lie." He added, rubbing his thumb along the back of Gabby's hand. "It sounds bad, like I'm only saying that because you found out, but I swear to you, I was going to tell you." He promised, his gaze never leaving hers. "I was going to tell you in the morning, no matter what. I didn't want to wait any longer than I already had. I swear, I was going to." He told her, watching his girlfriend closely as she thought over her words, Gabby clearly trying to decide whether she believed him or not. And considering the reason they were having this conversation, he couldn't say he blamed her.
"...Okay." She said, her voice barely above a whisper, Matt's eyebrows raising as she took a deep breath. "If you say you were gonna tell me, I believe you… I wish you would've just told me, but I believe you." She reiterated, the man's body relaxing as her words washed over him, Matt nodding slowly as he shifted himself closer to her, Gabby catching his gaze.
Before any more words could be said, Matt dropped her hand and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into him in a tight hug, his hands clasped together behind her back as his head rested against hers. Gabby was a little caught off guard by the action, but she relaxed into him nonetheless, the paramedic always finding his hold comforting regardless of the situation, Matt's hand running up and down along her back as she leaned down against his shoulder. The two sat in a soft silence for a few moments, Casey continuing to rub her back while they held onto one another, their chests rising and falling against each other with every breath, Gabby feeling him press a kiss to the back of her head before he spoke up.
"I really am sorry." He murmured against her hair, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as her hand gripped onto his arm.
"I know you are." She replied just as softly, Matt kissing her head once more before they pulled back, the man brushing a piece of hair behind her ear as his thumb stroked over her cheek.
"Yeah, but still, I need to say it… I never want to hurt you, to be the thing that hurts you, but I know I did. And you have every right to be angry at me for keeping this from you." He told her, Gabby leaning her head into his palm slightly as they locked eyes. "And I know that me apologizing can only do so much, but I truly am sorry. For all of it."
"Matt…"
"I thought I was doing the right thing." He continued, Gabby seeing just how mad at himself he was over all of this, the woman reaching out to place her hand over his leg before she gave his thigh a gentle, reaffirming squeeze. "By going to see Walker, and telling him to leave you alone, I thought I was doing the right thing, but I know I handled it all wrong… And after talking with Antonio, I realize I might've just made things worse, but I promise I wasn't trying to hurt you. I just know that with Walker… You don't like talking about it. And I get it, I do… What happened to you because of him was awful, and you don't owe me anything, but I guess that's why I was a little hesitant to bring it up." He spoke quickly, his mouth moving faster than his brain could keep up, Gabby listening to every word. "And I know that's part of it, too… That I just don't know if you're alright." He admitted, Gabby's face faltering slightly as Matt took a breath. "When it comes to Walker, I don't know how you're feeling, and it worries me, because I want to know you're okay… I need you to be okay, and I don't know that you are. So I think me going to see Walker, it felt like it was something I could do to make sure you were okay. And I… I don't know it that even makes sense-"
"It does." She cut in, Matt sighing softly before he nodded, the man rubbing his hand gently over her cheek before he dropped it down to her side, Gabby pursing her lips together as she thought over her next words. "I… I know I kind of shut you down whenever you try and talk about him, and it's not because of you, I just… It's not something I like talking about."
"I know it's not." He murmured, giving her a supportive smile, encouraging her to continue.
"I know I can't change what happened, so I don't think I need to focus on it. But I'm okay… Or, at least I feel like I'm okay." She explained the best she could, Matt giving her an understanding nod as she continued on. "It's not like I can't talk about what he did to me, I'm choosing not to… But I'm as okay as I can be with all of this, I just didn't realize it was something you were this worried about."
"Of course I'm worried." He responded, Gabby pursing her lips together. "Where Walker's concerned, I'm always worried about you… And I'm not sure how much you love that, but I'm sorry, that's never gonna change." He added, his voice a little lighter as his words caused a soft smile to tug on her lips.
"Yeah, I know it won't." She replied softly, the paramedic feeling a rush of warmth flood through her chest as he smiled. "You've always been overprotective."
"Well, when the person I love most in this world gets hurt, that's not okay with me." He spoke honestly, Gabby swallowing the thick lump in her throat as she watched his gaze move down to their conjoined hands. "I just hate that I was the one who hurt you." He murmured, Gabby's eyes falling closed for a split second as his words rang in her head.
If she hadn't already known just how apologetic he was for this, she did now, Gabby opening her eyes to find him looking back at her, regret shining in his gaze as he gave her hand another squeeze.
"I know I keep saying it, but I'm sorry, baby… For lying, and for not telling you in the first place. I know I broke your trust and that's not okay. That's the last thing I ever want to do… I'm really sorry, Gabby."
Nodding slowly, Gabby leaned forward and wrapped him up in a hug once more, the girlfriend feeling him relax himself into her as his arms came up to circle her body, Matt pulling her as close to him as she could possibly get before digging his head into her neck. Her hand came up to cup the back of his neck, Gabby feeling his deep breaths hitting her skin as they held onto one another in his office, Matt's warm palm running up and down her back as she pressed a kiss to his covered shoulder.
"I love you." He whispered against her, Gabby unable to stop the slight smile that tugged on her lips before she let herself relax against him, her fingers beginning to play with the hairs at the base of his neck.
"I love you, too." She replied just as softly, Gabby feeling Matt press a kiss to her skin before they reluctantly separated, Casey keeping his hands on her as he only pulled back far enough to see her. "And it's okay." She breathed out, Matt rubbing his hand along her arm as his eyebrows raised slightly. "You going to see him- it's okay… Just please don't lie to me again."
"I won't." He replied as soon as she got the words out, Gabby nodding as he leaned forward to press a kiss to the side of her head. "I promise, I won't." He assured her, his words earning another nod from his girlfriend as he pulled back yet again, the two locking eyes on one another as Gabby took a deep breath.
"Good." She replied, Matt giving her a nod as he ran his hand along her thigh, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip as she thought over her next words, the question on the tip of her tongue having been gnawing away at her since she first found out where Matt had gone. "So uh…" She started, clearing her throat as Matt waited for her to continue, "What did you say? … To Bryan?" Gabby questioned, his head cocking to the side slightly. "I know you went there to tell him to leave me alone, but I'm guessing you said more than that…" She prompted, watching her boyfriend take a deep breath before he responded.
"Yeah, uh… I did." He replied, Gabby waiting with an expectant look across her face, waiting for him to continue, which he soon did, the man going through every single thing that happened.
Starting from the beginning, he told Gabby everything that happened, from how he debated leaving the second he got there, to him actually seeing Bryan, and what all had been said- everything that was said. It wasn't the watered down version he gave Antonio, Casey knowing Gabby deserved to know what all had been discussed between him and Walker at the prison, Matt not missing the grimace that would occasionally appear over her face as he recanted all of it. And even though he hated seeing the effect some of Walker's words still had on her, he told her, Matt doing his best to leave nothing out, including how he'd threatened him, and his talk with Antonio once he left.
It hadn't been an easy conversation, but when he finished, he couldn't help but feel like a small weight had been lifted off his shoulders, Matt thankful that there were now no more secrets between them, Gabby fiddling with her hands in her lap as she ran her tongue along her bottom lip.
"That's it?" She questioned after a few moments. "There's nothing else?"
"That's it." He promised her, reaching out to rub his hand along her back as they locked gazes, Matt watching a soft sigh escaped her lips before she nodded. "...Are we okay?" It was his turn to ask a question, her deep brown eyes focused on his bright blue ones as she gave him another quick nod, Dawson giving him the assurance he needed as a small smile covered her face.
"We're okay."
Casey slid his key into the lock on their front door, the man desperate to get out of the raging Chicago heat as he pushed open the door, the cool air inside their home a huge difference from outside as he stepped into their inviting apartment, the man quickly closing the door behind him to keep their air conditioning in, Matt routinely securing the lock before he discarded his boots and walked further into their home.
"Babe?" He called as he turned the corner, Matt immediately seeing his girlfriend in the living room on the couch, Gabby turning back to meet his gaze as he walked up to the counter and tossed his keys and phone down onto the hard surface.
"Hey baby." She greeted, Gabby tossing the blanket off of herself and letting it rest over the back of the couch before she pushed herself up, her bare feet padding across the floor while Matt felt his mouth go dry when she began moving towards him, the sight of her in his t-shirt, a pair of underwear, and not much else bringing a content smile to his face. "How was your job?" She questioned, coming up to him to press a quick kiss to his lips before she began to pull away, but he didn't let her get very far, Matt keeping her close to him as he held onto her, the action causing her nose to scrunch up before she tilted her head to the side. "You smell."
"Well, that's cause I've been working all morning." He replied, leaning forward to capture her lips in another kiss, his hands sliding down from her waist underneath his shirt covering her body, his palms soon finding her warm skin as he brought her closer, Gabby smiling softly against his lips before she pulled back, Matt opening his eyes to find a smug grin covering her face.
"So, I take it that it was an actual construction job this time?" She teased, Matt raising his eyebrows before a slight scoff escaped his lips, though he knew he deserved the jab. And truthfully, her joking around with him about what had happened over the last few days was refreshing, Matt knowing her teasing was just another reminder she wasn't mad at him.
"Very funny." He replied dryly, a soft giggle escaping her lips before he kissed her once more, effectively cutting off her laughter as his hands roamed her skin before sliding down to cup her ass, the thin, lacy material covering her lower half not leaving much to the imagination as he grabbed ahold of her, his touch eliciting a low moan from Gabby as she pressed her hips into his.
When air became a priority, the two pulled back, their chests heaving as Gabby's eyes flickered to the clock on the wall behind him, the woman sucking in as deep of a breath as she could manage before speaking up. "You need to get cleaned up before we go over to my parent's house." She said in between breaths, Matt glancing behind him to get the time, a devilish smirk forming over his face as he turned back around, the man squeezing her flesh in his palm roughly.
"We have a few hours…" He spoke, his words falling between his lips like honey as the look in his eye caused warmth to pool in her stomach while his hand slid back up to the waistband of her underwear, his fingers teasing the material. "If you'd like to join me." He prompted, Gabby feeling him tap his hand against her lower back while his other ran over her side, the woman finding it difficult to concentrate as she was focused on the feeling of his hands on her.
"I'd love to." She replied softly, Dawson not missing how his smile grew when she accepted his offer. "But like you said… We have some time." She continued, pulling herself from his hold and taking a few steps backwards. "If you'd like to join me." She repeated his earlier words, Gabby saying nothing else before she turned around and headed for their bedroom.
Matt all but ran after her, the man catching up to her by the time they got to the door, his hands reaching out to touch any part of her he could as she continued to the bed. Having some semblance of sense left, Casey quickly went and closed the blinds before he turned back around, the blood in his body rushing south when he saw she'd already discarded the shirt she'd stolen from him, her upper half completely bare as she laid herself down on his side of the bed, Gabby running her hands lightly over her stomach as they locked eyes.
Without needing anymore prompting, Matt tore his dirty shirt from his body and tossed it to the ground, knowing it could be dealt with later as he began to work on unbuckling his belt, his gaze focused on the rise and fall of her chest as she waited on him. Nearly tripping out of his clothes, Casey managed to get his jeans, boxers, and socks off quickly, the man not missing the nearly impressed look on his girlfriend's face when she caught sight of him, his want for her painfully obvious as he walked towards the bed.
When he got closer, Gabby slowly slid her hands down her body towards her underwear, but Matt swatted them away when she began to slide the material down her legs, his reaction earning a soft laugh from her as she knew exactly what he wanted. And he didn't disappoint when he hooked his fingers underneath the lace clothing and forcefully yanked it down her legs, Gabby lifting her hips slightly to help him remove her underwear before he tossed them back behind him. His darkened eyes trailing over her nude form, Matt drinking her in as he stood beside the bed, Gabby taking the moment to look him over as well as his warm hand ran along the outside of her thigh.
And while Gabby would never complain about getting to see Matt in all his glory, she was soon growing impatient from the lack of contact; and by the look on her boyfriend's face, she suspected he was doing that on purpose, a soft pout forming over her lips as she widened her legs slightly, Matt's gaze moving south as her hands began to run over her legs.
"Please." She murmured, knowing her pleading could get him to do nearly anything as Matt immediately climbed down on top of her, the man's body settled in between her legs, forcing them further apart as her thighs resting on either side of his hips, his hands roaming her bare skin as he leaned down to capture her lips in a heated kiss.
Their movements were quick, and full of need, as Matt ran his hand along the front of her stomach before sliding down further between her legs, a soft gasp escaping the back of Gabby's throat when his finger ran over her, her desire obvious as he continued moving back and forth against her while his lips moved to her neck. With each passing moment, Gabby was becoming more and more ready, a low whine leaving her lips when he slid a finger inside her, her hand gripping his bicep while his lips marked the skin on her neck and her upper chest. His pace was agonizingly slow, Matt working her up as he'd done many times before, his movements never speeding up as he added another finger, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip as his lips moved towards her breasts, the combined sensations sending shivers through her spine.
"Matt…" She breathed out, her eyes closed tightly as his lips were focused on her body, the man releasing his hold on her before he looked up, finding her face scrunched up in a look he knew well.
"Yes?" He questioned lightly, Gabby unable to see the smirk on his face as her eyes stayed closed, her eyebrows furrowing when he began to gradually increase his pace, Matt leaning back down to graze his teeth over her sensitive skin before capturing her nipple between his lips.
"Please, baby." She said again, Matt continuing on as if she'd said nothing, his hand moving a little quicker than it had a moment ago, but nothing close to enough to get her to where she wanted to be. "Baby." She nearly begged, the intense feeling in the pit of her stomach beginning to grow as he switched to her other breast, beginning to give it the same treatment as the first, Matt not responding to her pleas as her bottom lip fell in between her teeth.
Then without warning, he adjusted his angle, Matt brushing against that delicate spot inside her, causing a soft, surprised shriek to escape her lips as her back arched up off the bed, Matt smirking proudly against her skin before he continued his methods, her body trembling underneath him as incoherent sounds began to fall from her lips. With each moment that passed, he continued to speed up, Gabby barely able to hold on as he continued his work on her body, his hand and his mouth doing all the right things as he brought her closer and closer to that edge, the feeling soon becoming overwhelming as he continued with reckless abandon. Matt had to use his leg to keep hers apart, Gabby fighting against the intense feeling he created within her, her moans and pleas continuing as he kept a quick pace, Matt determined to finish what he started.
And within seconds, he did, Gabby crying out as her entire body shook underneath him, Matt looking back up towards her as he kept his relentless pace, his methods sending shockwaves through her body as she rode out wave after wave of almost unbearable pleasure, her toes curling down against his calf as her hand came up to cover her face.
"That's it, baby." He murmured, pressing a kiss over her upper chest while he continued on, Gabby's legs feeling like jelly as she lost all sense of herself, the incredibly overpowering sensation forcing her to completely let go. "That's it." He repeated, slowly pulling his hand back as her lower half continued to tremor, Matt pressing open mouth kisses along the top of her chest and her collarbone to help calm her down as she sucked in deep breaths, Gabby's hand gripping onto his arm tightly as the aftershocks coursed through her.
Knowing well enough that she needed some time to recover, Matt gently ran his palm along her side as he continued kissing her skin gently, Gabby's hand slowly moving down from her face as she took slow breaths, her body in a state of euphoria as that tingling feeling lingered in her stomach. Loosening her grip on his arm, Gabby began to slide her hand up towards his shoulder, Matt lifting his head up from her chest to find a lazy smile shining back at him.
Before either of them said a word, Gabby moved her hand towards his cheek, rubbing over his skin softly as she continued to steady her breathing, Matt turning his head to the side to place a kiss against her palm.
"...You okay?" He questioned, his words slightly muffled by her hand as he turned back to face her, Matt needing confirmation before they went any further. Though by the look of complete contentment on her face, he knew she'd enjoyed herself.
"I'm perfect." She murmured, Matt's smile widening before he pressed another chaste kiss to her chest.
"Good." He practically whispered as he returned to his position between her legs, Gabby feeling him pressed against her as his body hovered over hers, Matt leaning down to capture her lips in a gentle, passion filled kiss. "Do you need a minute?" He questioned against her lips, Gabby shaking her head slightly as she wrapped her arms around his back, desperate to have him as close as possible before she kissed him once more, that being all the assurance he needed before he reached down to guide himself into her.
A soft gasp escaped her lips when he entered her, Matt moving as slow as she needed him to as her nails dug slightly into his back, her legs hiked up around his waist as they got into that all too familiar position, Casey resting for a moment once there was no space left between them. But within seconds, Gabby pushed her hips up into his, the action spurring on his movements as they began moving together, the couple swallowing each other's moans as they spent their time focused on nothing but one another, both of them wishing they could live in this moment for as long as possible.
"So, I take it you didn't kick Casey out."
Gabby looked up from the fresh glass of water she'd just gotten herself, the sound of voices from the living room filtering in as she turned to see her brother standing beside her, the younger Dawson not having heard him come in. And when she registered his words, her head cocked to the side, an unimpressed look covering her face when she saw the gleam in his eye.
"What?" He asked when he saw her glare. "It's a valid question… After we finished talking, you seemed ready to kill him."
"Matt and I are fine, Antonio. And can you keep it down, the last thing I need is Mama and Papa thinking Matt and I are fighting when we're not." She spoke quietly, Antonio scoffing lightly before he leaned his hip into the counter.
"So I take it you two talked about it?" The detective pressed, Gabby giving him a nod. "And he had a good excuse? For why he lied to you?"
"Is there ever a good excuse for lying?" She shot back, Antonio clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before shrugging softly.
"Fair enough." He replied, Gabby shaking her head lightly before angling herself towards her brother.
"We talked, Tonio." She responded, Antonio nodding slowly as he waited for her to continue. "He explained why he did what he did, and why he waited so long to say something. Then he told me what he and Bryan talked about, and him and I are good."
"Okay, good." He replied after a long pause, Gabby eyeing him closely as she heard the skeptical tone in his voice, her eyes narrowing into a tense glare, silently urging him to speak up, Antonio holding his hands up in defense immediately, the siblings able to understand exactly what the other was thinking. "Look, I'm glad you two are fine... Honestly, I was expecting this to blow up into a whole big thing, and Casey ended up on Severide's couch. Or worse, mine. So believe me, I'm glad you two talked and everything's good… But I guess I'm just surprised you're not still mad at him, is all." He explained, Gabby pursing her lips together before she drew in a deep breath, the woman crossing her arms over her chest as she mimicked her brother's stance.
"Do I like that he lied to me? No, I don't. Not at all. But now that I know why he did what he did, there's no reason for me to hold a grudge against him for this… Not when he feels bad enough as it is." She told him, Antonio nodding slowly in response. "I wish he'd handled things differently, and so does he, but I…" She trailed off, the older Dawson's eyebrows furrowing in question as he waited for her to continue, but she never did.
"You what?" He pressed, Gabby bringing her hand up to pinch the bridge of her nose as she thought over how to voice these next words to her brother, Antonio taking a slight step forward before she spoke up.
"I… After everything with Bryan, how he treated me for years- Not even the abuse," Antonio's spine straightened at the word, but he tried not to react to it, the man knowing how big of a step that was for her to be speaking so freely about what she'd gone through, "but just little things, how he'd never want to try and work things out, whether he pretended to or not. Or how he'd talk to me when I was upset, or trying to have a real conversation with him… I don't know, this may sound stupid, and it's not like I don't already know how different the two of them are, but being able to actually sit down and talk with Matt, and have him listen… For us to be able to work through something, then move on from it… It's just- it's refreshing, to be in a relationship like that." She breathed out, a slight frown forming over his lips as her words washed over him. "And it doesn't excuse him lying, at all… But he told me himself that he messed up, and I know he meant well, so... him and I are good."
Slowly, Antonio nodded before he took a step forward and wrapped his sister up in a hug, Gabby a little caught off guard by the action, but she reciprocated nonetheless, her eyebrows furrowing as she felt him tighten his grip on her.
"You okay, Antonio?" She questioned, the man nodding against her shoulder before they pulled back, Antonio offering her a small smile.
"I'm fine, I'm just… I'm really glad you have Casey." He told her, the honesty in his words bringing a bright smile to her face, the look of pure joy shining in her eyes causing him to grin as well. "You deserve to be happy, and I'm so glad you have that with him." He told her, Gabby's smile never faltering as she gave him a nod. "And I wasn't trying to cause any problems between you two when I told you, I just wanted to know how you were doing. But as long as you're good, I'm good...Though I'll still kick his ass if he lies to you again." He added, the younger Dawson scoffing lightly before she pushed against her brother's chest lightly.
"Yeah, so will I." She joked, her words eliciting a chuckle from the man as their mother walked into a room.
"There you two are." She huffed out, Antonio turning around to face her as he stood beside his sister. "Come on, it's time for dinner." She chastised, Gabby and Antonio both nodding before following their mom out into the dining room. As they entered the cozy room, Gabby saw her father and Matt standing in front of their seats, clearly waiting for them as she shot her boyfriend a warm smile.
"Hey beautiful." He greeted, his voice low, but still loud enough for her family to hear as heat flooded her cheeks, Gabby not missing the knowing look from her mother as they all got to their seats. "You gossiping about me in there?" His words were much softer this time, Gabby looking up at him with a raised brow, the woman nudging his hip slightly before responding.
"Wouldn't you like to know." She challenged, Matt shaking his head with an amused grin on his face.
"Alright, come on, sit, sit," Camila instructed. "Let's eat before the food gets cold."
Just as Matt had stepped back to pull out Gabby's chair, the doorbell rang, Camila releasing a soft breath before she stepped away from the table.
"I'll be right back, you all go ahead and sit, I'm sure this won't take too long." She replied, earning some nods from her family before they continued to take their seats, Matt waiting until Gabby was situated before he took his seat next to her; the seat that had unofficially become his over the last few months.
With the house mostly quiet, it was easy to hear Camila make her way to the front door, the sound of her opening it and greeting whoever was there being heard in the dining room as they all waited for her to get back. But the next person Casey heard wasn't someone he was expecting at all, Matt's eyebrows furrowing when he heard the familiar voice reach his ears. The voice he'd recognize anywhere, the one he grew up with every single day.
"Hi, I'm uh- I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm looking for my son."