Hi guys! Here's the next chapter for you all, I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading!
Also, there is an M Rated section in this one, just so you all know.
Stay safe, everyone xx
SIXTY ONE
Dawson paced back and forth in the bunk room outside of Matt's office, the paramedic keeping her head angled to the ground as she waited for her boyfriend's inevitable return, her mind racing as she tried to steady the trembling in her hands while the minutes passed slowly. She wasn't entirely sure how long she'd been in here, Gabby having come straight here after her impromptu conversation with Nancy, but it felt like it had been hours, Dawson becoming more and more trapped inside her own head with the more time that passed without 81 returning to the house.
She knew she messed up; she absolutely did. Regardless of what Nancy was asking of her son, Gabby had no place inserting herself into it, especially when she didn't know much of the story there at all. So her speaking to Nancy that way, she knew she fucked up. She probably just made this already uneasy situation all the worse, but she couldn't help it. She tried to keep her mouth shut, she tried to not engage, but the older Casey was making it so difficult, to the point where Dawson couldn't stop herself. But as she often did, she felt like she pushed it too far, Gabby most likely overstepping her boundaries where Matt and his mom were concerned. And she couldn't help but feel mad at herself because of it, Gabby wishing she'd been able to just leave it alone and let Matt deal with it. But the girlfriend-side to her made that nearly impossible, as she knew Matt deserved better than what he was getting from his own mother.
Gabby wouldn't pretend to understand anything about their relationship, or act like she knew how Matt and his mother got along, but what she did understand was the fact that Matt was upset. He was upset by what Nancy was asking him to do, and he was upset by whatever had gone on between them in the past, and that wasn't okay with her. Regardless of what she knew, or didn't know, Matt being hurt wasn't something she'd ever be okay with. And she didn't care that it was his mother who played a part in it, she wouldn't just stand there and act like everything was fine, like Nancy's actions hadn't hurt her son. Because they had. And Matt didn't deserve to get drug into all this the way she'd so abruptly pulled him into it. It wasn't fair to him, and Nancy needed to know that.
But still, Gabby couldn't help but feel like she shouldn't have been the one to say it. That regardless of how she felt, it wasn't her place to insert herself into something that was clearly between the two of them, no matter how much she felt the need to protect her boyfriend. Though, her mixed feelings aside, she knew there was nothing she could do about it now until she talked to Matt and let him know what had happened, unless Nancy had already done that.
Outside in the garage, Matt released a heavy breath as he hopped down the passenger side of truck 81, the man shrugging off his turnout coat and hanging it up on the side of the rig before working on getting out of the rest of his gear, the chatter of the men around him filling his ears as he continued to undress. The call they'd just returned from hadn't been anything too serious, luckily enough everyone got out okay, but it had taken up a good chunk of the day, Matt more than ready to, hopefully, have some time to decompress before getting called out again.
Once he got his boots back on, the Lieutenant began to walk towards the firehouse, the parked ambulance beside his rig telling him Gabby and Shay were still here as he stepped around his firefighters who were taking a little longer to get out of their gear, their conversations slowing them down as Casey walked around the back of the truck, the man intent on heading straight inside to get something to eat, as well as see his girl. But when he walked around squad, his steps slowed when he saw one of the paramedics sitting at the squad table talking with Severide, Matt's eyebrows furrowing as he looked around, hoping to see the PIC out here as well, but he couldn't find her anywhere.
"Hey Shay," Casey spoke up, his voice pausing her conversation with Kelly as the paramedic looked towards him, her eyebrows raised in question. "Where's Gabby?"
"She's inside." She replied, Matt seeing the almost pensive look on her face as she answered his question, a slight hint of confusion covering his features before Shay continued. "I think she's in your office."
"Alright." Casey responded, giving her a thankful nod before moving towards the double doors, knowing his desire for food would have to wait as he was now more interested in finding his girlfriend and making sure everything was alright. Things had been fine before the call, it being just another normal day here at 51, and in any other circumstance, he just would've asked Shay if something happened as Gabby being in his office when the house was empty didn't happen often. But from her demeanor alone, Matt could tell the blonde seemed to be a little unsure, herself. And with practically all of the firehouse out in the garage, Casey figured it best to not press the situation, the Lieutenant knowing that if something actually were wrong, Gabby wouldn't want it to be broadcasted to the entire house.
As he stepped through the double doors, Matt immediately took a right to the go to the bunk room, the completely empty common room a bit eerie as he headed for his destination in the mind, his long stride getting him there rather quickly as he slowly pulled the door open.
Before even stepping into the room, he could see his girlfriend pacing back and forth in front of his office, her movements nearly burning a hole through the floor as her head hung down towards the ground, her posture causing his own spine to straighten as worry flooded his system, Casey unsure of what to think as he stepped further inside. She hadn't noticed him yet, Dawson clearly still caught up in her own head enough to not register the sound of the door opening or closing, Matt's steps slowing down when he got closer to her. As he was thinking over how to approach her, Matt knowing more than most just how startled she could get, the woman suddenly looked up, Gabby having sensed his presence as he stood a few feet from her, her steps stopping abruptly in front of his open office door. The second their gazes locked, he could immediately see the uncertainty and apprehension hiding in her brown eyes, Casey's eyebrows furrowing as he closed any distance left between them while Gabby took a deep breath.
"What's going on?" Were the first words that left his lips, Matt knowing pleasantries were useless at this point as all he wanted was to figure out what was upsetting her, and fix it.
Dawson paused when the question left his lips, Matt immediately noticing the hesitance in her demeanor as she thought over the words resting on the tip of her tongue, the man becoming more and more concerned as he waited for her to respond. But when moments passed and she said nothing, he was all ready to speak up again, to try and help without knowing what the problem was, but he never got the chance as Gabby suddenly blurted out what was weighing on her mind.
"Your mother was here."
It took a moment for him to register what she said, confusion flooding his features as Gabby bit down on her bottom lip, Dawson unsure as to what type of reaction she was going to get from him as the topic of his mom wasn't exactly a pleasant one.
"What?" He finally got out after nearly a minute, Gabby releasing a heavy sigh before nodding back towards his office, the paramedic wanting some privacy for the conversation they were about to have as Casey gave her a nod in response, the couple walking the few short steps into his office before Matt shut the door behind them, effectively shutting them off from everyone else. "My mom was here?" He questioned Gabby giving him a nod as he stepped around her towards his desk, Casey leaning his body weight into the furniture as Gabby stood in front of him with her arms crossed over her chest. "When?"
"While you were out, maybe half an hour ago, I'm not sure." She replied, Matt hesitating for a second before nodding quickly. "She was looking for you."
Another heavy sigh escaped his lips, Matt bringing his hand up to run along the side of his rest before he shook his head, Gabby seeing his frustration beginning to grow as he took a few slow breaths. "Yeah, I know I need to call her, tell her I'm not getting involved in this." He breathed out, Gabby nodding slightly. "I'm sorry she just showed up here, she's gotta quit doing that, god- I'm sorry you had to deal with that." He rambled out, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing in slight confusion, the woman unsure of why he was the one apologizing. He had nothing to apologize for, in fact she was the only one who needed to be apologizing; he just didn't know that yet. But before she could respond, she saw his face pale slightly, Dawson taking a step closer to him as she saw the immediate look of worry that flashed in his eyes. "She didn't- Shay wasn't around when you all talked, was she?"
Gabby's face softened after she heard his words, the paramedic knowing the last thing Matt wanted was for this to become a house issue, and have his personal business all through the firehouse. Especially with something like this, Dawson shaking her head quickly, her silent reassurance causing him to relax before he gave her a nod.
"No, she wasn't… I asked her to leave before I talked to your mom." Dawson verbally assured him, Matt drawing in a deep breath before a grateful smile covered his face.
"Thank you." He murmured, relief washing over him as Gabby gave another quick nod. "I had no idea she'd show up here, though I guess after her following us to your parent's house, I shouldn't be surprised by anything she does anymore… But still, I need to call her, she can't be showing up here, not where I work. Not about this." He huffed out in frustration, the paramedic knowing he was talking to himself more than anything else before his eyes moved up from the ground to meet her gaze, Gabby offering him a small smile. One that immediately calmed him down as a similar look covered his face. "Just… Thank you, for handling that. I really appreciate it."
"It's fine, baby." She responded, the tear of endearment causing his smile to widen a bit as Gabby took another step closer, Matt soon sensing her hesitance as his smile shifted into a slight frown. "But, uh- there is something you should know…"
"What is it?" He questioned, the man pushing himself up off the desk to stand up straight, the look on her face telling him something was seriously bothering her, Matt coming to realize the uneasiness he saw from her moments ago outside his office had to do with more than just his mom coming to the firehouse.
"When your mom was here, her and I talked, and… I kind of-" She cut herself off, Matt noticing the wince that graced her features before she averted her eyes down to his chest. "We kind of got into it."
His eyebrows furrowed as he took in her words, Matt staying quiet as Gabby slowly lifted her head back up, locking eyes with him as she tried to gauge his reaction. Though he was giving little away, Casey pursing his lips together as his eyes stayed locked on her, Gabby suddenly feeling very exposed under his stare, the woman having no idea what to expect from him. But suddenly, his face softened, the man shaking his head as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth before he spoke up.
"What did she do?"
His words caught her off guard, Gabby's head tilting to the side as Matt's softened gaze stayed focused on her. "What?" She questioned, Casey taking a deep breath before he reached out to place his hands on her arms, Gabby's body immediately relaxing into his touch.
"What'd she say to you?" He elaborated, though his words had her no less confused, Matt scoffing lightly before he continued. "I know you, Gabby. You wouldn't have gotten into a fight with her unless she said something, so what was it?" He pressed, Gabby grazing her teeth along her top lip.
"It wasn't so much what she said to me, but what she was saying about you." She prefaced, Matt's eyebrows furrowing in confusion before she continued to explain what happened earlier today, the paramedic still a bit wary of how he'd react.
Though regardless of that, she told him, Gabby keeping his eyes on him as she went over every detail of her conversation with his mom, from the first things that were said when she showed up, to Nancy trying to get her to convince him to lie for her, to everything after that, she told him all of it, Matt staying silent the entire time. As she recanted her story, she could tell some of the things that had been said surprised him, from both her and from his mom, but she made sure to leave nothing out, the paramedic knowing she owed him that much. But it wasn't lost on her how deadly quiet he'd been, and she certainly didn't miss the way his body tensed when she mentioned the thing Nancy had said about his father. But still, she told him everything.
"And then she said how she was asking this of you because she wanted the chance to reconnect with you, and with your sister… How she missed out on a lot of time already, and she didn't want to risk going back to prison and missing out on any more, but I-" She cut herself off, a heavy grimace covering her face as Matt raised his eyebrows, the man clearly wanting to know what else had been said.
"You what?" He questioned, his voice rough from lack of use as he hadn't spoken at all since she first started telling him what happened.
"I said that… I said that she wasn't doing this for you, because if she was, she would've been here five years ago." She admitted, Matt's face remaining blank as a nearly nauseating feeling of guilt settled in her stomach, his reaction giving her nothing to go on as she tried to figure out how upset he was. But still, he stayed quiet, his eyebrows furrowed together as he drew in a deep breath, Gabby immediately shaking her head as a hint of panic started to settle in her mind. "I'm sorry, Matt." She practically whispered, her unsteady voice snapping him from his haze as his vision came into focus, Casey immediately seeing the distress written across her face. "I shouldn't have said any of it, I know I just messed all this up, and I shouldn't have. I don't know what happened between you two, or what she did, and I shouldn't have gotten involved, I just- I couldn't help it. I know how much this has upset you, and it's killed me- knowing this is hurting you." She only paused long enough to take a breath, Matt unable to get a word in as the nervous words fell from her mouth. "Because I never want to see you upset, and the way she was talking about all of this so casually, like what she was asking wasn't a big deal, it bothered me. But still, I shouldn't have said all that. I should've stayed out of it, and let you handle it, and I'm so sorry, I messed up-"
Her rambling was cut off by Matt pulling her into a tight hug, the man able to sense just how worried she was about this entire thing, though she relaxed almost immediately the second his arms wrapped around her, Gabby releasing a heavy breath before she brought her arms up around his back, the paramedic holding onto him just as tight. Her head was nestled into his neck, Gabby's breathing steadying out as Casey moved his hand up to cradle the back of her head, their embrace comforting them both as they stood in his office, Matt sighing softly before he pressed a kiss to the side of her head.
"It's okay." He murmured, Gabby's breath hitching in her throat before she pulled away from him slightly, only enough to get a look at him as she kept her arms around his waist, Matt immediately seeing the uncertainty in her eyes. "Really, it's fine. I'm not mad at you." He assured her, knowing she needed to hear those words out loud. "My mother, yeah, I'm mad at her, but not you… You didn't do anything wrong, babe."
"Are you sure?" She questioned, Gabby obviously needing the extra reassurance that they were okay. And after everything she'd gone through in the past with Walker, he couldn't say he blamed her, though it still didn't sit well with him. "Because I wouldn't blame you for being upset with me. I really didn't mean to cause any issues between you two, or between your mom and me, I just…"
"You were looking out for me." He finished for her, Gabby's eyes softening as a small, weak smile formed across his lips. "What you did, you were just trying to protect me, and I love you for it…"
"Okay…" She breathed out, though he could sense she wasn't completely convinced. "I'm still sorry, though." She added, Matt shaking his head slightly before pulling her back towards him.
"It's alright." He murmured before leaning forward to press a lingering kiss against her forehead, Dawson nearly melting into the contact. "And, I mean, it's not like I don't understand the impulse." He added before he pulled back once more to get a look at her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath as a sheepish look covered his face, the reference to his recent visit to the prison not going unnoticed by his girlfriend. "So really, don't worry babe… If this causes issues between me and my mom, I'll deal with it. But she never should've shown up here in the first place, and from what I can tell, you weren't wrong for what you said… Honestly, you probably told her some things I never would've been able to." He said as a slight frown tugged on her lips from his words, Gabby taking a slight step back from him as her arms fell down to her sides, Matt losing contact with her as well as he noticed the wary look on her face. "...What is it?"
Drawing in a deep breath, Gabby crossed her arms over her chest, Casey head tilting to the side curiously as he waited for her to speak up. "Do you… Look, I know after what just happened between her and I, I'm probably the last person who should be giving you this advice," She prompted, her words only intriguing him further, "but do you think that maybe you should talk to her?"
Confusion quickly covered his face, the man running his tongue along the inside of his cheek, Gabby soon sensing his uncertainty as she spoke up before he could question her.
"I meant- I know you're gonna call her and tell her what you told me, unless you've changed your mind about helping her…" She spoke cautiously, Matt releasing a heavy breath. "Are you still in the same place with that?"
"I am… I'm staying out of it." He answered softly, Gabby giving him a nod before continuing.
"Alright, well I know you said you're gonna call her, and tell her that. But I meant maybe more you talking to her. About everything… Whatever happened between you two, how you're feeling about all this, and everything that happened today." She told him, Gabby seeing the unsure look in his eye as he relaxed his weight into the desk. "I mean, she said she did want to try… To try and be a part of your life again, maybe she does… Maybe that's why she is doing all this."
"Didn't you just say she didn't mean it, though?" He questioned, though his voice wasn't accusatory, Matt's words soft as he tried to understand her reasoning, the paramedic sighing softly before she nodded.
"I did… But baby, it doesn't matter what I think. I barely know the woman, and after today, I doubt she'll ever really want to know me any better anyway, but my opinion isn't what's important here. You are… You are the only thing that matters in all this, at least to me, anyway," She spoke strongly, Matt unable to stop the small smile that fell over his lips. "And, from what I can tell, this strained relationship you two have, it's hurting you… All of this is upsetting you, and if you two talking could at least fix that… Whether you help her or not, if you think this is something she's serious about, that she wants to make an effort to be in your life, then I think you should talk to her." She explained as best she could, Gabby giving him a small, weak smile as she finished talking, the girlfriend just trying her best to support him as much she could regardless of her own personal feelings, as he had done that for her time and time again.
"I… I don't know." He replied after a beat of silence between them, Gabby giving him a slight nod before she stepped back towards him, Matt widening his stance to give her room to stand in between his legs as his hands returned to their familiar position on her lower back. "Would I love to have a relationship with my mom again? Of course I would, but even at our best, things between us were never great… They were never what you have with your parents. Hell, they were never even what I have with your parents." He told her, his words holding more vulnerability than she expected as she placed her hands on his shoulders, the woman rubbing up and down over them, and along the front of his chest, doing whatever she could to comfort him. "And truthfully, I don't even know if my relationship with my mom is worth fixing… I don't know if I believe that she actually wants to fix it." He told her, Gabby nodding sadly as her hands came to rest on the top of his shoulders, her thumb stroking lightly against the side of his neck. "I know you two don't know each other very well, but everything you said- I think you're right. I don't think she actually wants to be in my life, I think she's here because she needs something, and when this goes away, I won't see her again. She might try to make an effort at first, but I don't see it lasting. Even when she showed up out of the blue a few months ago, I was expecting her to need something. I still don't even know what all that was about, but I- I don't know, I don't think she actually cares about fixing things between us."
"Matt…"
"It's fine." He was quick to assure her when he saw the sadness in her eyes, Matt rubbing his hand along her back. "Really, it is… I'm fine. I'm good." He promised her, Gabby pursing her lips together as she kept her gaze focused on him. "Everything in my life right now is good. I'm happy… And you and I, we're good." He continued, Gabby giving him a nod in agreement. "Aside from everything going on with Walker, everything's going well for us right now."
"Yeah, it is." She agreed softly, Matt giving her a small smile before continuing.
"My life right now, it's good… I'm happy the way things are; the happiest I've ever been. I've got my people… I have everyone here, and your parents, and Antonio most days." He spoke with a soft smile, Gabby shaking her head lightly. "And, most importantly, I've got you." He added proudly, Gabby nodding as her grin widened slightly. "I've got everything I need… I have my family. And truthfully, I don't think she's serious about wanting to be a part of that, so I'm good." He told her, Gabby's eyes tracing over his face before she slowly nodded, the woman tapping her thumb against his neck.
"Alright… I just wanted to make sure." She responded, her words bringing a soft smile to his face before he nodded, the man pulling her closer to him as her head rested against his shoulder, the two connecting in a tight hug as he ran his hand up and down her back.
"I know." He murmured, Matt pressing a kiss to the top of her head as they continued relaxing into one another, the contact alone keeping them both grounded as Gabby moved her arms down to wrap around his back, keeping him even closer than he had been just seconds ago. "And it makes me love you even more."
Gabby smiled softly against him, the paramedic nuzzling her head into him before pressing a kiss against his shoulder. "I love you, too."
The couple stood in a comfortable silence for a few long moments, neither one of them making any effort to move as they enjoyed one another's presence, the feeling of Gabby's chest moving against his comforting as her hands came to rest just above his belt, Matt occasionally pressing kisses against her hair.
"You know…" He started after a couple of minutes, Gabby's mind coming back into focus when she registered his voice, the woman waiting to see what he had to say, "it's been a rough few days here between the two of us." He told her, his words catching her slightly off guard despite the truth to them, Gabby nodding against him after a second.
"Yeah, it has." She agreed, Matt continuing to move his large palm up and down her back.
"And I know a lot of that was on me, with going to see Walker. But then all this stuff with my mom, it's just… it's been a lot. For the both of us. And it makes me think we should take a break from it all, and get away for a few days."
Gabby's head pulled back when she heard his suggestion, the woman raising her eyebrows as she locked eyes with him, seeing the small grin resting across his face. "Get away, huh?"
"Yup." He replied, popping the word as it left his lips. "With everything we've had going on, things coming up," He spoke carefully, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek before nodding, "I think it would be good for us. To take a shift off and go away for a weekend. For us to get some time together… Just you and me."
A content sigh left her lips as he spoke, her reaction alone telling him just how much she appreciated the idea before a soft smile formed across her face. "That sounds incredible." She breathed out, Matt matching her grin before he nodded, the man rubbing his hand along her back.
But before he could respond, Matt's phone began to buzz in his pocket, both of them feeling the vibrations between them as the man released a soft breath before dropping his hand from around her waist and reaching for his phone. The second he saw the caller id, a wince covered his face, Matt shaking his head slightly before he silenced the call and slid his phone back into his pocket, the man looking back towards his girlfriend to find a knowing look across her features.
"Let me guess… Your mom?" She questioned, Matt nodding in response as Gabby sighed softly. "I'm sure she's just calling to tell you how much of a bitch your girlfriend is." She added, Casey's head tilting to the side as he feigned pondering over her words, Gabby narrowing her eyes when she saw his playful demeanor.
"Yeah, probably." He responded simply, Matt unable to stop his grin from growing as she playfully punched his side, light chuckles escaping his lips as Gabby hit him once more.
"You think you're so funny." She spoke, Casey shaking his head before he leaned forward to press a quick kiss to her lips, Gabby sighing against him before she kissed him back, the woman just glad to see him as lighthearted as he was after the conversation they'd just had.
Before she told him about what happened with his mom, she truly had no idea what to expect from him. Knowing Matt as well as she did, there was a part of her that was hoping he wouldn't be upset with her, but it was the unknowns of everything with his mother that had her nervous. She wasn't sure what type of reaction he'd have, as the topic of his mom had never been an easy one. But clearly, she should've known she had nothing to worry about.
"I am pretty funny, yeah." He replied, his soft voice pulling her from her thoughts as he tightened his hold around her waist.
"Mhmm… But all jokes aside, you probably should call your mom back, babe." She told him, his smile faltering slightly as he drew in a heavy breath.
"I know, and I will… I just wanna enjoy my time with you a bit longer-"
His words got cut off by the bells ringing out above their heads, Gabby biting back a smirk as they heard 61 being called out, the firefighter holding onto her huffing loudly before she tapped her hand against his side. "Looks like our time is up." She spoke, Gabby leaning forward to press a hard kiss to his lips, the action stunning him for a moment as she pulled back before he could even reciprocate, Dawson chuckling softly as she disentangled herself from his arms. "I'm gonna go, and you have things you need to do, too." She added pointedly, Matt giving her a nod as she stepped towards the door. "I love you."
"Love you too, babe." He replied without missing a beat, Gabby giving him a proud smile as she stepped out into the bunkroom. "Be safe out there."
Gabby blew him a kiss before nodding, Matt's own smile growing as he watched her hurry out of the bunkroom, the man keeping his eyes on her until she was out of sight before he returned his focus to the task at hand, the Lieutenant knowing his girlfriend was right. He needed to talk to his mom, and he needed to do it now. Because if he didn't, he knew she would just keep showing up, and that couldn't keep happening, especially not here at work.
As he released a heavy sigh, the man reached into his pocket and pulled his phone out, Matt dialing the familiar number before putting the device up to his ear as he tried to ignore the lingering feeling of guilt spreading through his gut. He knew he was doing the right thing, or at least he thought he knew he was, but despite that, he couldn't help but feel a little worried. Worried about what this meant for his mother, with him choosing not to help her. But those conflicting feelings aside, he also knew this was really the only choice he had. Even if he wanted to help her, he couldn't; not when Gabby was involved. Because even though he'd told his mom he wanted to leave her out of it, now that his girlfriend knew what was being asked of him, that brought her into this. And he wouldn't ever do anything to risk Gabby getting in trouble, not because of him, and certainly not because of his mom.
And he knew he needed to tell his mom that, but her phone just continued to ring, Matt taking another deep breath as he waited to see if she was going to pick up or not, the man a little confused as to why she wasn't answering, especially considering she'd just tried to reach him moments prior. But she never picked up as he soon got her voicemail, Matt huffing out a breath before he waited for the dial tone, the man not wanting to prolong this any more.
"Hi, Mom, it's me. I, uh- I know you just called, but, um… Gabby told me what happened today, with you coming to the house and what was said between you two, and I-" He cut himself off, shaking his head as he brought his hand up to rub over the side of his face. "I'm sorry you're in this mess, I really am, but I don't want any part of it. You can't keep showing up everywhere, and you especially can't make this Gabby's problem. I am sorry, and I wish I could help, but I can't lie for you… You asking me to do this, it isn't fair to me, and I can't be a part of this… And if you didn't do anything like you say, it shouldn't matter… I'm sorry, I really am, but I can't help you, Mom."
Without saying another word, the man hung up the call, knowing there was no going back now as he roughly tossed his phone behind him onto the desk, Matt pushing him up off the furniture quickly as varying emotions flooded his system. But as he stood up straight, his eyes caught movement outside his office, the man stopping abruptly when he saw Severide standing just beside his open door, Matt's eyes widening slightly in surprise at the unexpected visitor.
He wasn't sure how much Kelly had heard, but by the look covering his friend's face, he could only assume he'd heard some of the call, Severide's eyes flickering back towards his desk before meeting Matt's gaze, a flash of worry immediately showing across his features.
"You all good, man?" He asked carefully, Matt drawing in a deep breath before he nodded, the truck Lieutenant walking towards his door and stepping past Severide as he got out into the bunk room.
"Yeah Sev, I'm good." He assured him, Casey patting him on the shoulder before he headed for the hallway, the man desperate to just put all this behind him.
Though, knowing his mother, it wouldn't be that simple.
"Matt, baby-"
Gabby choked out the air in her lungs as she ground down onto him, her nails digging into his chest as his palms gripped her hips tighter, Matt doing all he could to help her movements as she bounced up and down on top of him, the man meeting her thrust for thrust as their moans and whines filled the thick air in their bedroom. She could feel herself getting close, Gabby slowly losing more and more control over herself as Matt increased their speed, the woman barely able to form a coherent thought as she arched her back, her head falling backwards as her muscles began to tremble, Matt grinning smugly up at incredible view he had of his girl.
But his smile soon faltered when she tightened around him, Matt shuddering underneath her as he did all he could to keep up his rhythmic pace, though between the show she was currently giving him, and the feeling of her around him, it was nearly an impossible task. But he persisted nonetheless, Matt gripping her body tighter as he lifted his hips up off the bed, a surprised whimper leaving her lips as he brought her closer and closer to the edge, Casey ignoring the stinging pain he felt in his skin as her nails bit into him, Gabby surely leaving her marks behind.
"Matt…" She practically whined, Matt able to read her better than anyone else as he knew she was almost there, her near pleading giving him a newfound sense of determination as he picked up his pace, Gabby using her leverage against his chest to help him as they moved faster. While he had her help, he took the opportunity to move one of his hands towards her chest, Matt gripping her flesh in his warm palm while Gabby kept up her steady pace, the two nearing the end together.
But it was Gabby who let go first, her legs trembling around his waist as he felt her tumble over the edge into pure bliss, Matt doing what he could to keep up his pace as he wasn't quite there yet. If not for his hold on her, she likely would've collapsed down against him, Gabby's entire body shaking as she rode out that high she so desperately craved, the warmth of his hands on her only intensifying the feeling as her body nearly strangled him. But he continued on, Matt not slowing down as he felt himself get closer and closer, Gabby doing all she could to encourage his movements despite the fact that her body felt like jello, her mind barely able to grasp much of anything aside from Matt and the wonderful things he was doing to her. Though even in her hazy state, she could feel the tell tale signs of his release getting closer, Gabby wanting to make sure he felt just as good as he'd made her feel as she continuously tightened herself around him, the action causing him to choke on breath as he hand tightened on her hip, no doubt leaving his own marks behind on her skin.
It took a few moments, Matt's relentless movements making it hard for her to ever really recover from the euphoric sensations she was experiencing, but when she regained more control over herself, she moved her focus to the man underneath her, Gabby sliding one hand down to his stomach while her other moved to rest on top of his that was gripping her chest. Squeezing the top of his hand gently, she slowly removed it from her body before bringing it up to her lips, Gabby continuing to grind down onto him as she leaned forward slightly, Matt watching her with wide eyes as he felt himself losing more and more control despite the fact that Gabby had slowed their pace down considerably.
Without a word, she pressed soft kisses against his hand before taking his thumb in her mouth, Matt instinctively gripping her jaw as she took over most of the work, Gabby regaining some of the speed they lost as she felt the muscles in his abdomen tense underneath her hand. It felt like everything started happening at once as her reckless movements caused him to lose control, Gabby feeling her boyfriend nearly swelling inside her before he finally hit his breaking point. It almost caught her off guard, Matt filling her up as a satisfied smile covered her face before his finger fell from her mouth, his hand touching any part of her he could as he slid down her body, the woman continuing to move while he gave her everything he had.
She slowed down at a gradual pace, Matt's low whines and moans filling her with a sense of pride as his hands came to rest on her hips, Gabby's up and down movements turning into back and forth ones as she did everything she could to make sure he'd gotten everything out of this he could; so much so that it soon started to become too much, the man far too sensitive for what she was still doing to him as he began to squirm underneath her.
"Baby." He breathed out, Gabby grinning softly before she came to a complete stop, a heavy, satisfied breath escaping his lips as he locked eyes with her, the image of her glistening body on top of him something he would never get tired of as her bottom lip tucked between her teeth. They took for a few moments for both of them to settle, Gabby's body still trembling in the aftershocks of their time together, as was his, both of them content to stay here for a little while longer.
"Hi." She eventually spoke up, the simple word bringing a smile to his face as a light chuckle escaped the back of his throat, Matt finding the sudden shift in her demeanor amusing as he ran his hands along her sides.
"Hi." He replied just as she leaned down towards him, the woman capturing his lips in a surprisingly chaste kiss as her chest pressed into his, both of them moving together before he slowly pulled back, Matt moving his hand up to brush a few pieces of stray hair behind her ear. "Thanks for joining me for my nap." He spoke softly, Gabby laughing lightly before she pressed another kiss to his lips.
"You're welcome… Though I guess I didn't let you get much sleep." She responded sheepishly.
"No, not really. But you won't find me complaining." He replied, Gabby raising her eyebrows as a sheepish grin covered her face.
"Oh, I know… I mean, you definitely weren't complaining when I had my-"
He cut her off with another kiss, Gabby giggling against his lips before she reciprocated the action, the woman kissing him back for a few moments before she began to pull away, Matt tapping his fingers against her bare lower back as a chill coursed through her. "...What time are you supposed to meet Shay?" He changed the course of their conversation, his eyes glancing to the clock on the nightstand, seeing it was nearing seven pm.
"Uh, maybe in two hours or so? We didn't really set a time." She told him, Matt giving her a nod before she carefully rolled off of him, the man missing her warmth instantly as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed, Gabby reaching down to the floor to grab Matt's t-shirt that she'd pulled off of him earlier. "You still coming with me?" She questioned as she glanced back towards him, a small smile tugging on her lips when she saw his eyes trailing over her bare form until she put his shirt on, the material soon covering her body from his appreciative stares.
"Absolutely." He replied, Gabby giving him a nod before she stood up and headed for the bathroom.
"Well, that's fine, but you're gonna need to feed me first." She spoke, Gabby winking before she stepped through the open bathroom door, Matt chuckling softly as she disappeared out of sight.
"Yes ma'am!" He called after her before he collapsed back down onto the bed, a content smile forming over his face as he continued to decompress after their unexpected, though not unwelcome, evening in bed together.
After a few moments of quiet, Matt huffed out a breath before forcing himself to lift up and reach over for his phone on the nightstand, the man resting back into their pillows in the middle of their bed before looking at the device in his hands. He quickly took in the usual notifications; a few work emails, and a couple messages from Severide, along with one from Shay, but it was the last one that caused him to sigh heavily, the firefighter smacking his lips together as he saw a missed call and voicemail from his mom.
This had been the second time she'd tried to reach out to him since he left her that voicemail yesterday on shift, and while he hadn't been ignoring her either time, he couldn't help but dread the conversation he knew was coming, Matt huffing out of a heavy sigh before unlocking his phone and going to his calls, the man clicking on his voicemails before putting the phone up to his ear.
"Hi honey, it's me again… I know you told me you wouldn't be helping me, but please, I really think we should talk more about this. I need you to do this for me, sweetheart. I talked to my parole officer again today, and she's waiting on you for your statement… Just- Please, honey, I really need you to do this. I know you not wanting to help, I know that's not you- that's Gabby talking." Matt's eyebrows furrowed as he heard his mother's desperate voice, his body tensing as she mentioned Gabby. "For whatever reason, she doesn't like me… I'm not sure what all she told you about what happened between us at the firehouse, but I can assure you I didn't do anything wrong… Please, just call me back, Matthew. Please."
As his mom finished speaking, Gabby reemerged through the open doorway leading to the bathroom, still clad in only his shirt with a soft smile resting over her face, Matt tapping out of his calls before placing his phone down on the mattress.
"You okay?" She questioned as she got closer, her smile wavering slightly when she noticed the unsure look in his eye. But Matt simply nodded, the man glancing at his phone before looking back up at her as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
"I'm good… Just got a voicemail from my mom." He told her, Gabby wincing slightly before nodding understandingly.
"She's still wanting to talk to you, huh?" Dawson asked as she reached out to run her fingers through his tousled hair, the man giving her a nod in response.
"Yeah, she is… I guess her parole officer is looking for me. Needs a statement." He explained, Gabby nodding as she rubbed her thumb along the side of his head, Matt leaning into her touch.
"I'm sorry, babe."
"It's alright… I'll have to call her back, but right now we should get ready. Especially since I have to feed you." He spoke lightly, Gabby's smile returning to her face before she nodded, the woman rubbing his head once more before pulling her hand back.
"Well, you know how I get when I'm hungry." She told him, her nose scrunching up adorably as she spoke, Matt immediately nodding with raised brows.
"Oh, trust me, I know… Now let's go," He spoke with a sudden urgency, the man tossing the sheets off of him, leaving him completely bare as Gabby stood up, Matt soon following her lead. "We need to shower, and knowing how you get in there, that'll probably take a while." He teased her, Gabby cocking her head to the side as his hands reached for the hem of his shirt covering her body, the woman pressing her palm against his chest softly.
"How I get?" She questioned with a scoff, Matt smirking proudly before he ripped his shirt off of her, Gabby shivering involuntarily as they both stood completely nude in the middle of their bedroom. Casey admired the view for a moment before he nodded once more, the man turning her around and leading her towards the bathroom.
"Yeah, how you get… You can never keep your hands off of me." He continued to joke, Gabby shaking her as she let him lead the way. "Though I can't blame you."
"Oh please." She muttered, her exasperated words causing him to chuckle as they continued into the bathroom, both of them well aware that if anything, his words should be the other way around. That he was the one who had trouble keeping his hands to himself when they showered together. But she let him have his fun, Gabby not pressing the issue as they got ready to take a shower together, the couple well aware they had limited time to get cleaned up before they needed to leave the apartment.
But that didn't stop them from making the most out of the time they did have.
"You want another one, Dawson?" Shay asked from behind the bar, her white rag tossed over her shoulder as Gabby glanced down to the half-full glass in front of her, the woman shrugging before giving her a nod.
"Sure." She responded, Shay nodding in response before moving to make her friend a fresh drink while Gabby's eyes looked around the busy bar, it taking only seconds before her gaze landed on Casey. Her boyfriend was seated across the room at a table with Kelly, though Severide was more focused on the blonde woman that Gabby noticed had come up to them about ten minutes ago, Matt keeping himself preoccupied with the drink in his hand while he occasionally talked to his friend.
"Here you go."
The sound of Shay's voice pulled her from her thoughts, Gabby tearing her eyes away from her boyfriend to look back towards her friend, the blonde paramedic having followed her line of sight to Casey before sliding the drink closer to Gabby, Dawson giving her a thankful nod.
"How's everything there?" Shay questioned, Gabby raising her eyebrows as Leslie's eyes moved back towards Casey. "With lover boy? You two still good?"
"We're fine." She replied without hesitation, Shay pausing for a moment before giving her a nod, the woman behind the bar clearly wanting to press more, but she didn't. It was no secret Shay had been curious about the woman who showed up at the firehouse yesterday, but the one time she openly asked about it, Gabby really didn't have much to say, the brunette knowing it wasn't her information to share. "We actually talked about getting away for a weekend." She continued, Shay raising her eyebrows before a soft smile formed across her lips.
"Yeah?"
"Mhmm… Matt wants to go away for a bit, just him and I." Dawson added, Shay's smile only continuing to grow.
"That'll be fun."
"I think it will be… We both need it." She breathed out, the smile on Shay's face falling slightly before she nodded.
"Yeah, there's seemed to be a lot going on." Shay started, her eyes flashing back towards Casey, "with the both of you." She continued pointedly, Gabby pursing her lips together before she nodded.
"He's been dealing with some family stuff." Gabby responded vaguely, knowing Shay wouldn't stop until she got something, the blonde more worried than anything else.
"I figured it was something like that…" She said, Dawson giving her a slight nod.
"Yeah, but he's fine… We're both good, we just think some time for the two of us would be good."
"I think so, too. You two deserve to have a nice weekend somewhere, away from all the craziness here." Shay agreed, Gabby smiling softly before she nodded. "And good on Casey for the idea." She said with a knowing grin, Gabby's own smile widening before she glanced back at Matt, her eyes immediately locking with his as he was already watching her, his inviting grin growing even more when she looked at him.
"Yeah… he did good."
Across the bar, Casey gave Gabby a quick wink before she turned her attention back to Shay, Matt releasing a heavy breath as his eyes moved back to Severide and the blonde he'd been talking with. When this woman first showed up at their table, she'd made her interest in both of them known, but when Severide made it clear Matt was a happily taken man, she shifted her interest to Kelly instead, which Casey was more than grateful for. Though her presence had kind of taken away from his night out with his friend, Matt all ready to get up and just go hang out with Gabby and Shay as Severide was clearly preoccupied.
But just as he'd said goodbye to his friend and was about to head towards his girl, he caught sight of someone entering the bar, someone he hadn't been expecting as the man soon saw Matt as well. Changing his path, Matt walked towards him, offering him a warm smile as they came to stand by an empty table.
"Hey, Antonio, I wasn't expecting you here tonight." Matt greeted, the two men connecting in a quick hug before pulling back, the older Dawson smiling softly before looking around.
"Yeah, I was talking to Gabby, she said you all would be out here tonight so I figured I'd stop by." He replied, Matt giving him a nod as Antonio ran his tongue along his teeth, the man clearly wanting to say something more. "And I… I haven't really had a chance to see you, or Gabby, since dinner the other night… I wanted to check in, see how you two were doing- with this stuff with your mom."
Matt pursed his lips together before he drew in a deep breath, the firefighter gently crossing his arms over his chest as he nodded, the man knowing Antonio was bound to have a few questions. But as Casey's eyes traced over the man's face, Matt's eyebrows furrowed when he saw a knowing look covering his features, realization soon setting in as the younger man released a heavy sigh.
"...You know, don't you?"
His voice was barely audible, Matt speaking softly in the loud bar as a slight wince covered Antonio's face.
"About my mom… With her being in prison- Why she was in prison… You know." He said again, Antonio huffing out a heavy breath before he nodded, Matt shaking his head slightly before straightening his back, the detective sensing how uncomfortable his sister's boyfriend was.
"When I looked into you, after all that mess with Hallie…" He started to explain, Matt taking another deep breath before he nodded.
"Yeah, I guess I should've realized that would've come up." Casey responded after a few seconds, Antonio nodding slightly in response as Matt shook his head quickly. "...Why didn't you ever say anything?" He questioned almost immediately, the older man running his tongue along the inside of his cheek.
"I figured it wasn't my place." Antonio responded, his words catching Matt's attention, the cop quickly continuing. "Trust me, there was a part of me that wanted to tell Gabby, and keep her away from you- I'm sorry, man. But she's my sister, and seeing all that..." He cut himself off when he saw the look that crossed Casey's face, Matt waving him off before his arms fell to his sides.
"It's fine, I get it… Between what all had been said about me, and what my mom did- I guess I'm just more surprised you didn't say anything."
"Yeah, honestly so am I… And like I said, I wanted to. But then when I came to the firehouse and talked to you, and I just- I don't know, I got this feeling you wouldn't hurt her…"
"Never." Matt interjected strongly, even though he didn't need to. "I'd never do anything to hurt her, Antonio."
"I know you wouldn't… And I knew that then, too. That's why I didn't say anything. I wasn't sure who all knew, if anyone knew, and I didn't feel like it was my place to air all that out. So after I spoke with you, and saw how good of a guy you were, I didn't say anything." He explained, Matt hesitating for a moment before he nodded, the firefighter's eyes flashing towards his girlfriend, Gabby having yet to notice her brother's presence as she continued to talk to her friend.
"I appreciate that." Casey breathed out before looking back towards Antonio. "Really… Thank you, for not saying anything." He continued, the older man shrugging slightly before he caught Matt's gaze. "I know that couldn't have been easy, to not tell Gabby."
"You don't need to thank me… Like I said, I know you wouldn't do anything to hurt her. And I can't imagine what that was like for you growing up, but you're not your parents, Casey. You were a kid, and their actions, that's not on you. That much I do know. So you don't need to thank me for anything." He replied, Matt swallowing the thick lump that formed in his throat before he nodded, the air around them turning thick once more as Antonio ran his tongue over his bottom lip. "But, uh…" Antonio started, the older Dawson looking towards Gabby for a split second before continuing, "does my sister know?"
The look that immediately covered Casey's face gave Antonio all the answer he needed before Matt slowly shook his head, the detective sighing softly before he glanced back towards Gabby.
"Are you gonna tell her?" He pressed, Matt nodding immediately before he spoke up.
"I am… I'm gonna talk to her about it, I just- It's not the easiest thing for me to relive." Casey admitted, not missing the pitiful look that flashed in Antonio's eyes. "But even aside from me, I've also been a little hesitant to bring it up, because of everything she went through with Walker." He spoke quietly, Antonio's neck tightening as the weight of Matt's words hit him. "So I just… Don't wanna bring up any bad memories, I guess. I know she's dealing with everything, and she's doing well, but up until recently that hadn't really been the case. So I guess that's just made me a little weary to talk about it…" He finished, earning an understanding nod from the older brother.
"I get that." Antonio breathed out. "I do, and, as her brother, I appreciate it… But you know you can tell her, Matt. You don't need to be afraid to talk to her about this… If anything, she'll understand more than other people would." He reasoned, Matt running his teeth along his bottom lip before he nodded. "She has a… unique perspective on things like this. One I wish she didn't have. But she does, and knowing my sister, she wouldn't want you to keep this from her because of that."
"Yeah, you're right." Casey agreed after a moment, Antonio giving him a nod before the firefighter opened his mouth to continue, but he never got the chance as a familiar voice cut him off.
"Hey big brother, I wasn't expecting you here tonight."
Antonio and Matt both turned at the sound of Gabby's voice, an instantaneous smile forming over Casey's face when he saw the way her eyes lit up as she walked towards them.
"Yeah, figured I'd come by and have a few drinks with my little sis." He replied, Gabby's smile widening before she brought her brother in for a hug, Antonio rubbing his hand over her back before they separated.
"Well, Shay can get you whatever you want over there." She spoke, Antonio giving her a nod before walking towards the bar, leaving the couple alone as they stood by the table.
As Gabby turned towards her boyfriend, her smile faltered slightly when she saw the almost worried look on his face, confusion settling in across her features as they locked eyes with one another. "You alright?" She questioned, bringing her hand up to the side of his face and stroking her fingers along his skin, Matt smiling softly before he nodded.
"I'm good, babe." He replied, turning his head to press a kiss against her palm before he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Alright…" She responded after a beat of silence, her gaze flickering behind Matt before looking back up at him. "I'm sorry Kelly ditched you." She added lightly, Matt scoffing as he turned back to look at his friend.
"Oh, it's fine… I'd much rather be spending my evening with you, anyway." He told her, his words bringing a proud grin to her face before she leaned into him, Matt pressing a lingering kiss against her hair as they made their way back to the bar, both of them ready to enjoy their night with Shay and Antonio, and do what they could to forget about their problems for a little while.