Hello everyone, I'm back with the next chapter for you all! Thank you so much for understanding me taking last week off, but I'm glad to be back and posting this update. And also, thank you so much for the birthday wishes, it means everything to me. You all are so, so kind, thank you for that.
I hope you all enjoy this chapter, and I can't wait to hear what you think. Thank you so much for reading!
Also, there is a small little M-Rated part in the beginning of this one, just so you know!
SIXTY SIX
Gabby's legs trembled around Matt's waist as he stilled deep inside her, her body taking everything he was giving her as he pressed wet, open-mouthed kisses on the top of her chest, the sound of her pants filling the air around them as her nails dug into his back. Her breaths were short, and choppy, Matt trailing his lips along her skin until he came to rest in between her breasts while Gabby rode out the waves of intense pleasure he'd created within her. And once they finally came down, he pressed one last kiss against her warm body before carefully rolling off of her, Matt not missing the soft whine that left her lips when their bodies disconnected.
Both of them continued to catch their breath, Casey grabbing the sheets that had found their way to the end of the bed and placing the material over them, Gabby resting her hands over her stomach as her tongue poked out between her teeth, Matt keeping his eyes on her while a proud smirk tugged on his lips.
"Good morning." He spoke up after nearly a minute, Gabby chuckling softly before she turned her head towards him, her eyes opening to meet his gaze.
"Good morning." She repeated breathily, Gabby saying her first coherent words since she'd been woken up by her energetic boyfriend nearly half an hour ago, the only sounds that had left her lips up to this point being pants and moans, along with her occasionally calling out his name. "This is a very, very good morning." She added, Matt's smile widening as he reached out to place his hand below hers on her abdomen, his thumb rubbing against the side of her wrist while he felt her breathing underneath his touch.
"It definitely didn't suck." He agreed, Gabby laughing once more before blowing out another breath and resting her head back down on the pillow, her hair sprawled out around her while Matt propped himself up on his elbow. The sheets were bunched at his waist, his hand still firmly placed on her as her eyes fell closed, Gabby relaxing back into their bed as he kept his gaze on her. "...In fact, I think we should start more mornings like this."
His words caused her to open one eye, Matt smiling shamelessly before Gabby scoffed, the woman turning her head away from him as she slid her hand down to partially rest over his. "I think we do just fine, babe." She murmured, Gabby practically able to see the bright grin covering his face despite the fact her eyes were closed. "...But, I wouldn't be opposed to it, either." She added softly, Matt smirking before he leaned down and pressed a kiss to her lips, catching her off guard for a split second as she hadn't seen him coming.
Their soft, sleepy kisses continued, the pace a definite shift from what they'd just been doing moments prior as he rubbed his hand over her stomach, partially resting his weight on top of her as her free hand lifted up around him to grip the back of his neck. He felt her lips turn up into a smile against his, Matt sliding his hand down to her side over the sheet, effectively pulling her closer. As the minutes passed, their movements became more and more heated, Matt pulling the sheets down to give him room to roam her skin, the change in temperature combined with his warm palm running over her body causing a chill to course through her spine, as he began moving his kisses down her jaw to her neck.
Her eyes opened as her breaths became heavier, Matt attacking the skin on her neck as he focused on that spot that he knew drove her crazy, while his palm slid up to grip her chest, Gabby's hand sliding down his back. It was becoming more and more difficult for her not to become completely lost in him, his methods of keeping her attention more than effective as he started teasing her sensitive skin in his palm. Blowing out a harsh breath, Gabby forced herself to look towards their nightstand to check the time before she quietly cursed under her breath, though based on the way Matt became more attentive, she was sure he thought it was for him.
"Baby." She murmured, scratching his back as her eyes fell closed, Matt smirking against her neck before he gently bit into her skin. "I don't think… We don't have time." She spoke as coherently as she could, though the man partially on top of her was making that increasingly difficult.
A soft, displeased groan escaped his lips before he reluctantly lifted his head up, Matt turning to look towards the clock as well, seeing his girlfriend was right in the fact that if they didn't get up and out of bed here soon, they'd definitely be late for work. Huffing out a breath, he soon met her gaze, his face softening when he saw her bright brown eyes shining up at him, Matt unable to stop the small grin that formed across his face as he began moving his hand up and down her side.
"I guess you're right." He replied just as softly, not wanting to completely ruin the peaceful moment they were in. Though he knew with them needing to get up, it would soon be gone anyway. "Though I'm not entirely opposed to us calling in sick." He added, Gabby raising her eyebrows before another slight chill moved through her, Matt chuckling lightly.
"I don't know, that's probably not the most professional thing to do." She responded as her fingers delicately ran across the base of his spine, Matt breathing in deeply. "And we also probably shouldn't jinx it."
"Yeah… Yeah, you're right." He repeated reluctantly as she scrunched up her nose in amusement. And while he found the sight absolutely adorable, he still leaned down to kiss her anyway, Gabby relaxing into him as they moved together slowly. "Alright," He started once they separated, neither of them really in any hurry to leave their bed even though they both knew they had to. "How about you go shower first, and I'll make us some breakfast." He suggested, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing as her head tilted to the side. "...What?"
"Nothing, it's just… You don't want to join me?" She questioned back softly, with an almost challenging look in her eye before she tucked her bottom lip in between her teeth. Blowing out a heavy sigh, his eyes fluttered closed, it taking all the willpower he had to not just forget about all their responsibilities at the firehouse and stay locked away in this room for the rest of the day.
"You're gonna be the death of me, woman." He spoke under his breath as she continued teasing the skin along his waist, the sweet sound of her laughter causing him to reopen his eyes, before he was immediately met by hers. "...We will most certainly be late if I take you up on that offer," He continued, his voice back to a normal volume as his thumb stroked along her side just over her ribcage. "So you go and shower, I'll get the coffee started and make us some food." He told her, Gabby nodding before he leaned down to steal another quick kiss, both of them having to force themselves to pull away after a few wanting moments so they didn't get lost in one another again.
As he begrudgingly lifted himself up to sit on the edge of the bed, Gabby pulled the sheets back up over her to protect herself from the chill in the air, Matt reaching for his boxers that he'd removed earlier in the morning before standing up and putting them on. "You want toast, or a bagel with your eggs?" He questioned as he turned to face her just before getting his boxers in place, Gabby smiling softly as she pushed herself up to rest on her elbows.
"Bagel, please." She responded, Matt nodding with a soft smile before he leaned down for one last kiss, his girl looking far too desirable for him to just walk away, the feeling of her smiling against him sending a rush of warmth through his body. "Now go, or we really will be late." She whispered against him, lifting her arm up to gently push against his bare chest before he stood up.
With a proud grin on his face, he nodded before heading for the door, the man only gone for a few seconds before she heard him call back a reminder that she also needed to get out of bed, Gabby smirking softly while she tossed the covers off of herself and headed for the bathroom, stretching out her tired and euphorically achy muscles as she began to get ready for the long day ahead.
"Dawson! We need a medic over here!"
Casey's voice flooded through their radios as they worked the scene, Gabby picking up the paramedic bag before reaching for the radio strapped to her chest, Shay giving her an approving nod before Dawson headed off in that direction.
"Oh my way, Casey." She replied through the radio as she began navigating herself through the maze of first responders, victims, and bystanders, the horrific accident having drawn quite the crowd. "Coming through!" She spoke as she maneuvered through all the people, and gurneys, and equipment needed to rescue anyone stuck in their vehicles due to the pile up.
When they arrived on scene nearly half an hour ago, it felt like nearly every company in the city had been called, though when they got their first look at the crash, it soon became clear as to why. There had to have been at least fifteen vehicles involved in the accident on the highway, along with a rather large truck carrying concrete cylinders in the middle of all the madness, making their jobs all the more difficult. And while none of them had any idea as to what had actually caused the accident, that wasn't too important right now as their focus was on helping those who had been injured.
"Dawson!"
"Coming, Casey!" She told him through the radio once more, sensing just by the urgency in his voice that whatever he was looking at wasn't good. And when she got closer to the car he was working on, she was beginning to understand why, as she took in the sight of the crushed metal partially underneath the truck holding the concrete.
But it wasn't just that, as it was the fact that even Dawson could tell the straps holding the cylinders up looked weak, at best, the paramedic unsure of how much time they had before they'd fall down on top of the vehicle, despite their attempts to keep it up.
"We've got a victim trapped over here." He spoke when he saw her, his voice pulling her from her thoughts as Gabby nodded before she walked towards the back of the car, knowing her only way over was to climb across the top of the trunk as the car was pinned from both sides. "We need him stabilized before this thing goes." He added quickly, Dawson glancing towards the truck before she nodded.
With Herrmann's help, she slid across to the other side, Gabby moving carefully as to not create too much of a shift, Matt helping her down onto the ground before she rushed over towards the passenger side door, Jenkins grabbing her ambo bag and bringing it over while Gabby got to work.
"Has he regained consciousness?" She asked as she began looking through her bag, Matt shaking his head as he kept an eye on the scene around them.
"No, he's been out since we got here… Managed to get the driver out, but they're in rough shape." He informed, earning a sharp nod from Gabby before she continued to work.
It was like everything was moving at warped speed, Dawson quickly checking over what she could as she collared the man, the amount of blood coming from his head, and his obviously broken legs not leaving the greatest feeling in her gut. "Casey, can you grab my radio?" She asked, as her gloved hands were covered in blood, Matt giving her a nod before reaching around her and picking up the radio strapped to her chest, placing his hand on the button as he lifted it up. "Shay?"
"Yeah, Dawson?"
"We need a gurney over here, by the truck- Now." She spoke, her voice holding her own sense of urgency while Casey held onto her radio.
"On it." Shay replied back, Gabby nodding before Matt dropped the radio back down against her body as he looked towards his firefighter.
"Jenkins, go help Shay." He ordered, the woman nodding before she ran off in that direction, leaving only him and Dawson on this side of the car, while Herrmann and Mouch were on the other side waiting for instruction. "How's it looking, Dawson?"
"Not good, we need to get him out as soon as we can." She replied, Matt nodding before he waved Herrmann and Otis over, needing the man's assistance just as Shay and Jenkins got back with the gurney. "Shay, I need the backboard." Dawson ordered, the blonde nodding before her and Jenkins passed it over the car, Shay soon coming to help as well.
The first responders began working together seamlessly as they carefully extracted the victim from the car, Casey using the spreader to push the crushed dash back, before they slowly maneuvered the unconscious man onto the backboard. It was a tedious process, all of them following Dawson's lead as she directed each of them on what to do. But as they were working on lifting him out, it wasn't lost on Casey how the straps holding up the cylinders were starting to tear, the man's eyes widening when he saw them shifting and fighting against their restraints.
"We've gotta move!" Casey ordered just as one of the failing straps snapped, the first responders moving faster to get the man from the car, Shay, Jenkins, Herrmann, and Otis carrying the backboard away from the wreckage.
But the man was barely in the clear when the other strap broke, Matt turning back just he saw the heavy bits of concrete beginning to shift and fall down off the truck. And it was like he could barely even think, his eyes widening as he watched the object barreling towards them, Matt instinctively grabbing ahold of Gabby and pulling her to the ground, using his entire body to shield her as much as he could as the piece of concrete fell down on top of the crushed car.
The noise was nearly paralyzing, Matt just waiting for that crushing weight to hit him as he protected the paramedic beneath him, the sound of her confused whimpers causing him to tighten his grip, his entire body covering hers as they were huddled against the side of the car.
But despite Casey waiting to feel the intense pain of being hit by the concrete, that feeling never came, Gabby jumping slightly when one of the cylinders hit the ground just beside them, the object brushing against Matt's back as it rested up at an angle against the crushed car, effectively pinning them against the vehicle.
"We're okay." He murmured as he cradled her head, even though he wasn't entirely sure if he'd hurt her or not in their rush to the ground, Matt doing everything he could to stay calm as the sound of more concrete falling hit their ears.
"Lieutenant!" They heard Herrmann yell. "Dawson!" He added, just as another piece of concrete hit the ground, bouncing into the one keeping them in place, Matt grimacing as he felt a slight pressure against his side.
"We're alright!" He called back, feeling Gabby take heavy breaths as he continued shielding her, knowing she had absolutely nothing aside from him to keep her safe.
The entire thing lasted for all of maybe twenty seconds, but it felt like an eternity as Matt kept covering her with his body, it taking some time for Gabby to completely understand what all had happened. But what she did know was that the slight stinging pain in her side from hitting the ground was nothing compared to how painful it would've been to be crushed by one of the tons of concrete that had fallen from the truck, Gabby taking slow breaths as she focused on the feeling of Matt rubbing her head.
"You okay, baby?" He whispered once he was sure everything had stopped shifting, effectively pulling her from her haze as she nodded, the two not able to really see each other in the position they were in. "Alright… Can you get up?" He asked as he pulled back as much as he could, though with the concrete resting up against his side, he only had so much room to move.
"Yeah… Yeah, I can." She told him, Matt nodding before he slowly let go of her, the firefighter doing what he could to not move too much as he wasn't sure of how much his body was affecting the positioning of the concrete.
"Okay. Go ahead and go, I'm right behind you." He assured her, Gabby nodding before she carefully crawled out from under the heavy object resting against the car, Herrmann quickly helping to pull her up as their victim was secure on the gurney. And once he was sure Gabby was clear, Matt quickly moved out from under the concrete, the Lieutenant not wanting to tempt fate as he hurried up to his feet.
Even after he was clear, he made everyone take a few more steps back, his hands holding onto Gabby's arms as he led them all away from the car, the first responders getting out of the way just as the concrete cylinder they'd been under shifted and collapsed to the ground right where he and Gabby had been. But there was no need to focus on it, Matt keeping his attention on his girl while his firefighters went to assist Shay.
He knew they didn't have much time, that Gabby needed to get to work, but he couldn't help himself from taking a few moments to check her over, Matt drawing in a deep breath before he met her eyes, seeing a similarly uncertain look shining back at him. "...You sure you're okay?" He asked softly, knowing she was a little shaken, as was he admittedly. But he needed to know she was at least physically alright before they went their separate ways.
"I'm good… Are you?" She questioned back, Gabby checking over him the same way he had moments prior.
"I'm good." He repeated, earning a nod from her as he gripped her arm tightly, Gabby giving him a soft smile before she hurried off towards her partner, knowing she needed to focus on the man that needed their help right now, Dawson well aware that once she got away from the scene she'd feel a little more at ease.
Shay tapped her pen against the counter as they stood at the nurses station in Lakeshore, the blonde waiting impatiently while her partner finished up their drop off paperwork, Gabby working as quickly as she could as she sensed Shay's growing desire to get back to the house. But along with her slight impatience, Dawson also sensed her friend's worry, Shay having been keeping an eye on her since they left the gruesome call maybe half an hour ago.
"Go ahead." Dawson spoke up when she felt Shay's gaze on her yet again, the PIC turning towards her with a knowing look.
"What?" Shay feigned confusion, Gabby shaking her head before raising her eyebrows. "Fine… Are you sure you're okay?" She questioned once more, this being the third time Shay had asked her since the near miss back at the scene. "You don't need to get checked out or anything? I mean, that was a close one… Closer than it probably should've been."
"I'm fine, Shay." She promised with a soft smile. "No worse for wear… You're right, it was a close one, but I'm good." She added, Shay nodding before a slight smirk tugged on her lips.
"Well, it helps when you have your knight in shining armor there." She replied cheekily, Gabby unable to stop herself from rolling her eyes, despite the soft smile that tugged on her lips. "What? It's not like I'm wrong. And it was kind of cute- I mean, it was scary, don't get me wrong." She corrected herself when Dawson gave her a tight glare. "But I swear, I've never seen Casey move that fast… Well, except for that time he yanked you from the car his first shift here." She continued, Gabby cocking her head to the side at the memory, that day feeling like a lifetime ago. "But, to my point, the man moves fast when the love of his life is in danger." She finished with a proud grin, Gabby scoffing heavily as she turned her body towards her friend.
"Casey and I didn't even like each other his first shift here…"
"Yeah, but you had already slept together." She countered, Gabby biting her tongue as she knew she had no room to argue. "So it's close enough… Regardless, I'm just glad you two are alright." She told her, her voice turning more serious as Dawson gave her a nod.
"Me too." She responded before going back to her chart, Shay's eyes moving around the room, her back tightening when she saw multiple pairs of eyes on them, even though they'd look away once they realized their stares had been caught.
"And plus, I'm kinda glad you don't need to get checked out, cause I just wanna get out of here… Everyone keeps staring at us." She added, dropping her voice considerably so no one would hear her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she looked around as well.
There was a lot of truth to Shay's words, the PIC having noticed it as well the second they got their patient dropped off. For whatever reason, her and Shay seemed to have gained the attention of most of the nurses here, the men and women doing a terrible job of hiding their obvious stares as paramedics hurried to finish their work.
"Like what the hell is their problem?" Shay continued, Gabby shrugging softly before looking back down towards the paperwork. "...You know, I wonder if they know about you and Casey." She mused, Gabby's eyebrows furrowing as she continued to work. "I bet Hallie spread that around, probably made up some lies about you two, and got everyone here to hate you."
"Shay, easy…" Dawson tried to reel her back in, but the blonde wasn't having it.
"What?"
"Hallie has no problem with Matt and I," She started, keeping her voice low. "Why would she do that?"
"For the same reason she lied to everyone about sleeping around behind Matt's back, and getting knocked up by some other dude." Shay replied without hesitation, Gabby pursing her lips together before shaking her head.
"I don't think she's been saying anything about Matt and I, Shay." She responded, earning a shrug from the blonde before she leaned her weight into the counter.
"Well, I guess we'll never know… But speaking of."
Gabby heard the immediate shift in her friend's tone, Dawson looking up just in time to see Hallie coming towards them, the doctor clearly not aware of their presence yet as her head was focused down on the iPad in her hands. But it was like she immediately sensed them, Dr. Thomas looking up right at Dawson as soon as she got to the nurses station, the woman pausing for a split second.
They'd done pretty well recently, at not seeing one another during their drop offs at Lakeshore, though admittedly they hadn't been here much lately. But whether Hallie had been splitting her time between other departments, or she'd taken some extra time off to be with her child, Gabby wasn't sure. But regardless of the reason, they hadn't really run into one another a lot recently, not until today.
Drawing in a deep breath, Dr. Thomas continued towards them, dropping off a file she'd been holding onto with one of the nurses before walking to them, Gabby instinctively standing up a bit straighter as Hallie came to a stop across from them.
"Uh, hi Dawson… Shay." She greeted, the uncomfortable air around them quite easy to pick up on. But Gabby simply smiled, not wanting to make this situation any worse.
"Hi Hallie." Gabby replied, while Shay stayed quiet, the uncertainty around them only growing as Hallie spoke up once more.
"...Were you all at that big accident?" She questioned, clearly trying to make small talk with the paramedics, though Dawson couldn't help but wish she wouldn't.
"Yeah, we were." Shay told her, the blonde's voice a bit rough as she tapped her hands against the counter. "It was a bad one."
"That's what it sounded like… We've got a few patients from that one, it seemed rough. I'm glad you guys are okay, though." She continued, Gabby pausing for a moment before she nodded, unsure of exactly what to say to that. "So, um… How is-" She cut herself off, wincing slightly as Dawson knew exactly what, or rather who, she was wanting to ask about. "How's Matt doing?" She questioned, Shay biting back a scoff as she knew she just needed to let Gabby handle this.
"He's doing well." Gabby responded without hesitation, not missing the slight smile that formed over her lips.
"Good, that's really good… And how are things with you two?" She asked, Gabby swallowing thickly as she met Shay's gaze.
"Him and I are great." She told her honestly, sensing that her boyfriend's former wife genuinely just wanted to know how things were with him. And by the way her smile widened, Dawson assumed her suspicions to be correct.
"That's good to hear, Dawson." She spoke softly, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek before nodding. "I'm happy for you guys." She added, Dawson merely nodding as she was unsure of what to say to the woman who had so badly hurt the man she loved more than anything.
"Thanks." Gabby managed to get out before she returned her attention to her paperwork, the PIC very much wanting to finish this so they could get out of here.
"Hey, uh, Hallie- I've got a question…" Shay spoke up once more, Gabby's back immediately tensing as she wasn't sure what was about to be asked. And considering how Shay and Hallie's last conversation went, Dawson could only imagine what the blonde was wanting.
"What is it?" Dr. Thomas asked, clearly a little apprehensive as well.
"Do you, uh… Do you know what's going on here?" She questioned vaguely, Hallie's eyebrows furrowing in slight confusion.
"I'm sorry?"
"Why everyone's staring at us?" She pressed, realization settling in over Hallie's face before she nodded.
"Oh, that- Yeah, I think it's because your house is kind of famous around here." She answered vaguely, Shay and Gabby both sharing an unsure look.
"Why?"
"Because of that firefighter… The one in prison."
Gabby's body immediately tightened as she swallowed the lump that had seemed to form in the back of her throat, the PIC feeling Shay's eyes on her as Dawson forced herself to take a deep breath.
"He's from 51, right? I'm pretty sure that's why… He's kind of been the talk around here lately." Hallie continued, the woman oblivious to Dawson's reaction as the paramedic looked down towards the counter.
Gabby knew there were rumors around the department as to why Bryan was in jail; some of which included her, and some that didn't. And she wasn't stupid enough to think no one through the CFD would talk, though she'd always done her best to ignore it on the off chance she heard any of the rumors. But what she didn't realize was that talk of him had gone past the fire department, and had spread through to the hospitals, as well.
"And, I mean… None of us really know what happened there, we've heard some things, but everyone says different stuff," Hallie started, her eyes focused more on Dawson. "But, you know how nurses are and their gossip. So he's kind of been a topic of discussion around here… Especially considering how he's getting out soon, isn't he?"
Shay didn't answer her, the blonde keeping an eye on her friend as Gabby ran her tongue along the inside of her lip, before she nodded tightly. "In, uh- In a few days, yeah." Dawson responded quietly, wincing slightly as the words left her lips.
"How do you guys even know about that?" Shay jumped in, her defenses rising as Hallie looked towards her.
"I don't know who first found out here, I just know I hear people talking about it, a lot… Nurses, and firefighters and paramedics who come in and out of here…" She explained carefully, Gabby's eyes falling closed as she took another breath. "He was kind of the only thing people were talking about back when it happened, then I guess with him getting out soon everyone's talking again... Though, uh, whatever happened, I'm just sorry you all had to work with him… He doesn't sound like the best guy." Hallie continued, Gabby's hand clenching tightly as it sat on the counter, the woman dropping her pen abruptly before she took a step back from the counter.
The movement gained both Shay's and Hallie's attention, Dawson gripping her hands together tightly as she focused her attention on her partner. "I'm gonna head out to the rig, can you finish this?" She asked suddenly, Shay immediately giving her a nod.
"Yeah, I got this… You go." She told her, Gabby nodding before she began heading for the door, the paramedic not bothering to say a goodbye to Hallie as she gripped her radio tightly in her hand, both Shay and Dr. Thomas watching her until she disappeared through the sliding doors.
"...Is she okay?" Hallie asked softly, Shay pursing her lips together as she focused her attention on the paperwork in front of her.
"She's fine." Shay responded firmly, her voice harsh as she didn't bother hiding her dislike for the woman now that Gabby was gone. Especially considering how Hallie was the reason Dawson had left so quickly, even if she didn't realize it.
The palpable tension around them continued to grow, Shay not looking the woman's way again as she finished up the last of the paperwork, the paramedic quickly handing it off to the nurse before leaving the hospital without another word.
When she got outside, she found the rig exactly where they'd left it, Shay jogging around to the driver's seat, finding Gabby in her usual spot before she even opened the door. And as she got inside, Gabby still hadn't looked her way, Shay unsure if her friend even realized she was there as she stared out the window, Dawson's hands clasped together in her lap. Not wanting to startle her, she carefully reached out to rest her hand over Gabby's arm, the PIC looking towards her as her vision snapped into focus.
Neither of them said a word initially, Shay watching her closely as Gabby drew in a deep breath, the blonde trying to get a read on her friend. From her initial once over, Dawson seemed to be okay. But still, she couldn't help but worry.
"...It's five days, yeah?" Shay questioned quietly, not missing the slight grimace that covered her friend's face before she nodded.
"Yup." She responded simply, both of them knowing there didn't need to be any more elaboration as they spoke of Walker's impending release. "And I'm fine." She was quick to add before Shay could even ask.
"I didn't say anything."
"I know, but you wanted to. And I'm fine, Shay. Really." She promised, the paramedic waiting a moment before she nodded.
"Okay… I won't bug you about it, I know I've done that enough over the last few months." She spoke lightly, trying to lessen the heaviness in the air around them. And, thankfully, it seemed to work as Gabby smiled softly. "And I know you have lover boy, but I am here if you need anything." She reminded her, though they both knew she didn't need to.
"I know you are." Gabby promised, Shay nodding before they both reached for their seatbelts, knowing they needed to get back to the house.
"And I might start with making Hallie keep her damn mouth shut." She added as she began to drive away, Gabby scoffing lightly as she looked towards her friend.
"She didn't mean anything by it, Shay." Dawson replied, the blonde paramedic shrugging as she pulled out into the road.
"Maybe not… But I still don't know why she tries talking to you in the first place. It's just weird, and you'd think she'd understand she has no business knowing anything about your life, or Casey's." Shay responded, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she looked back out towards the road.
"Yeah, maybe…" She murmured, Shay glancing towards her friend for a split second before returning her attention to the road, sensing Gabby wasn't wanting to dwell on this conversation.
"But enough about her," Shay started, her words regaining Gabby's attention as they came to stop at a light. "That big family get together is tomorrow night, yeah?" She questioned, Gabby sighing heavily as her eyes widened a bit. "The Dawson's and the Casey's… Or Casey, I guess." She corrected herself, Gabby clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth before she nodded.
"Yup… Tomorrow night." She replied, Gabby still unsure of how the evening was going to go.
When Matt first brought up the idea of getting everyone together, she was supportive, even if she was a bit hesitant, Gabby knowing how much this all meant to him, her boyfriend having been pretty excited to get her parents and his mom all together for dinner.
Since the anniversary of his father's death, he and his mom had continued rebuilding their relationship, which also included Gabby forming one with Nancy as well. And while she was all for it, Gabby happy to see Nancy making an effort with her son, she was still a little wary. Because despite the fact that she felt like she had a better understanding of his mother now that she knew some of what she'd been through, she still couldn't shake the way Nancy had treated her son in the past. So it boiled down to Gabby having a constant battle with herself, the woman doing what she could to support Matt and build a relationship with his mother, while also remaining cautious of the whole thing, knowing from her boyfriend's own recants that his mom could up and disappear at any moment. Though, for his sake, she hoped that wouldn't happen this time.
"And how do you think that's gonna go?" Shay asked with a soft smile, Gabby matching her grin before shaking her head.
"I hope well… I mean, I think it'll go fine. We're doing it at our place, so they'll be kind of some even ground there. And Matt's so excited," She spoke softly, her own words bringing a small smile to her face. "Nancy, she hasn't really seen our place, yet. She hasn't gotten the official tour or anything, so we're gonna do that, or hopefully have a nice dinner with both our parents. I think it's time, or past time really, that they get to know each other."
"I'm sure it'll be great." Shay replied, Gabby nodding as they continued driving back to the firehouse. "I don't know much about Matt's mom, but I know Ramon and Camila, and they can get along with pretty much anyone. Especially the mother of their favorite person in the world." Shay added with a knowing grin, Gabby feeling heat rise to her cheeks as she ducked her head, the PIC well aware of just how true Shay's words were. "But if I'm being honest, I still can't believe I didn't get an invite to the Dawson's and Casey's meeting for the first time." She huffed out, Gabby's look morphing into one of amusement as she tilted her head to the side.
"They've already met Nancy, Shay… Or my mom has."
"Not officially." She cut in. "Just when she showed up like a stalker to their house." Shay continued, Gabby wincing slightly at the terminology. Though she said nothing, because while Shay knew of Nancy's impromptu visit and some of the aftermath that followed, she wasn't aware as to why Nancy showed up the way she did. And Dawson intended to keep it that way. "But they haven't officially met the mother of the man you're living in sin with, and I'm a little bummed I won't be there to see it." She finished, Gabby narrowing her eyes as a rough scoff left the back of her throat. "...What? It's true."
"Yeah, and that right there is exactly why you're not invited." She joked, Shay rolling her eyes before waving her off, Gabby smirking proudly before the paramedics fell back into their easy conversation, the air around them light as they continued towards the firehouse.
Shay backed the rig into the garage, Gabby watching her driving abilities through the mirror before she came to a complete stop, the blonde killing the engine before both women climbed down from their seats.
"You think any of them made any lunch?" Shay questioned as Gabby came around the back of the rig, shrugging softly before they began walking towards the house.
"After that call, probably not." Gabby replied, Shay clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth before she nodded. "I'm honestly surprised they're back already."
"Yeah, guess you're right… Maybe we'll get lucky and they'll order in, I'm starving." She breathed out as they got to the double doors, Gabby pulling it open and letting Shay walk in ahead of her.
"That'd be nice, but at this rate I'll settle for anything." Gabby responded as they continued inside, seeing most, if not all, of the house sitting in the common room. Most everyone was in their usual seats, Herrmann and Mouch taking up residence on the couch while everyone else was scattered throughout the room, Matt residing in his typical seat at the head of the table, with Severide sitting off beside him.
"Hey, how'd the drop off go?" Herrmann spoke up when he noticed the paramedics, his question gaining the attention of the entire room as Matt looked up from his phone, Gabby meeting his eyes just as a soft smile formed over his face.
"It went fine." Shay replied with a shrug, knowing the specific details of their time at Lakeshore wasn't anything that needed to be shared with the entire firehouse, both medics walking towards the long table towards Severide and Casey.
"You guys finish up at the scene okay?" Gabby asked as they got to them, Shay collapsing down into the vacant chair beside Matt, the one that was more than likely meant for Gabby as Casey raised his eyebrows before returning his attention to his girlfriend.
"We did." Matt replied as she came to stand beside him, Gabby resting her hand over the back of his neck. "It took us awhile, we just got back maybe ten minutes ago, but it went fine."
"Good." She murmured, shooting him a soft smile as she began playing with his hair, while simultaneously rubbing her thumb along his skin.
"And we ordered in some subs." He added, Shay releasing a thankful groan before anyone could get a word in, her reaction causing Matt and Gabby both to chuckle as Shay shoved her hands into her pockets.
"Thank God." She breathed out, Matt tilting his head to the side in amusement before she continued. "Dawson and I were just talking about that and how hungry we were, bless you Matthew Casey."
The man laughed once more, Gabby shaking her head while Severide merely scoffed, Shay's antics gaining the attention of most of the room as she relaxed back into her chair.
"Well, I mean, it was Otis' suggestion, but you're welcome." Casey replied before looking up towards Gabby. "And I went ahead and just got your favorite, hope that's alright." He told his girlfriend, Gabby smiling softly before she nodded.
"That's perfect, thank you babe."
"What about me?" Shay cut in with raised brows as both Matt and Gabby looked towards her. "Did you get my favorite babe?" She joked, Gabby narrowing her eyes slightly while her boyfriend just chuckled, Casey leaning back into his chair with his hands resting on the arms.
"Severide already had you covered." He replied as Gabby continued rubbing her hand along his neck and back, Shay nodding before she gave him a wink.
"Thanks handsome."
"Alright, well as cute as this is," Gabby cut in, disrupting the harmless joking between her boyfriend and best friend as Matt looked up to her, "I'm gonna go to the bathroom… Let you two have some alone time." She teased, Matt smiling softly up at her as she dropped her hand, Gabby meeting his eyes. "Thank you for the lunch."
"You're welcome." He replied as Gabby leaned down to press a gentle kiss to his forehead, Matt rubbing his hand over her arm before she pulled back, intent on heading out of the room. But she wasn't able to get very far as Casey gave her arm a gentle squeeze, Gabby looking back down towards him. "...You still feeling okay?" He questioned, Gabby running her teeth along her bottom lip. "You're not sore or anything after earlier?"
"I'm alright." She murmured, giving him a reassuring nod before placing her hand on his shoulder, squeezing it softly. "Are you feeling okay?"
"I'm fine, baby." He promised, the two smiling softly at each other for a few long seconds.
"Oh, you're disgusting." Shay groaned, effectively pulling them out of their moment as Gabby rolled her eyes, the PIC turning back towards her partner with a slight glare. "I'm sorry, but it's true. You two are gross… Now get out of here, and let me have time with Casey."
Dawson chuckled softly before she stepped away from the table, Gabby putting her hands up in defense as she continued to take a few steps backwards. "My apologies, Shay… Just try and keep your hands to yourself." She challenged, the blonde scoffing lightly before turning back around in her seat to face the table.
"Don't worry, I know he's yours." She replied, Gabby shaking her head before leaving the common room, Matt turning his attention back to Shay once his girl was out of sight, finding the blonde's eyes already on him.
"You seem to be in a good mood today." He commented while still resting back in his chair, Shay shrugging before she leaned forward to rest her elbows on the table.
"Well, Dawson's in a good mood, so I am too… You know, aside from the whole almost getting crushed thing." Shay replied, not missing the way Casey immediately winced, before he looked back towards the direction Gabby went.
"Yeah, that was a close one." He breathed out, shaking his head slightly before returning his gaze towards his friend. "She is okay, though, right? She's not just telling me she's fine so I don't worry?"
"As far as I know, she's fine." Shay promised, Matt's body relaxing as he nodded, the paramedic sighing softly before she continued. "But I do think you should know…"
"What is it?" He pushed, Shay leaning forward towards him as Severide watched them closely, Leslie wanting to make sure this conversation couldn't be heard past the three of them.
"We did run into Hallie, at Lakeshore." She told him, Shay unsure of what reaction she'd get from him. But, to her surprise, he seemed completely unfazed by the mention of his ex-wife, which was definitely out of the norm compared to how he used to react whenever she'd be mentioned, Matt merely giving her a nod.
"What did she want? … She didn't say anything to Gabby, did she?" Casey asked, it becoming clear his only concern in this situation was making sure Hallie hadn't done something to upset Dawson, Shay quickly shaking her head.
"No… Well not like that, no. She just asked about you, and the two of you, how you were and all that." She explained, Matt giving her a nod. "But, um… When we were talking, Walker came up."
The second she said the name, Casey's spine straightened, his jaw tightening as he braced his hand against the edge of the table.
"What?" He questioned, though his question didn't need much of a response, Kelly's eyes flashing back and forth between them as Shay gave him a nod.
"How?" Severide asked, Shay pursing her lips together before she breathed deeply, the paramedic beginning to explain what had happened at Lakeshore earlier in the day. Everything from them dropping their patient off, to everyone staring at them, to their conversation with Hallie, before she finally finished with Dawson going out to the ambulance, Matt keeping his eyes on her as he listened to her every word.
"And when I went out there, she seemed fine…" Shay continued quietly as Matt brought his hand up to cover his mouth. "But when Hallie was talking about him, she just seemed… I don't know the right word, but she got out of there as fast as she could." She told him, Matt releasing a heavy sigh. "And I don't blame her… With everyone staring, and Hallie talking about Walker, I think that was the last thing she expected but… I think it just overwhelmed her." She told him, not missing the soft frown that graced his lips.
"But she's okay?" He asked quietly, Shay giving him a nod.
"As far as I can tell… She said she was, and she was acting like she was, but you know how she is… She always gets a little annoyed when I keep asking her." Shay replied, Matt giving her a nod. "Which is another reason I'm telling you this, because you're the only person who can check in on her without her getting mad." She added, Matt rubbing his palm over his cheek. "So maybe just keep an eye on her… I mean, I know you will anyway, with it only being a few days away…"
"Yeah." He breathed out, Shay shaking her head slightly.
"I can't believe it's been three months already." Severide added, both Casey and Shay looking towards him. "Though I can't believe the bastard only got 90 days in the first place."
"He deserved to rot in there." Shay spat, a flash of anger covering her face before she quickly composed herself, Matt gripping the edge of the table tightly before looking back towards the hallway, checking to make sure Gabby was nowhere in sight. "But I… With this being so close, I'm worried about her, Casey. Just please look out for her." Shay asked, her voice barely audible as Matt looked towards her.
They both knew Gabby wasn't one to need protecting, that she could handle herself, which is where so much of her irritation came from when everyone constantly checked in on her. But they also couldn't help but feel like she hadn't really let herself focus on the fact that here in a few short days, Bryan would be a free man. In fact, from her own admission, Matt knew she hadn't been focusing on it, let alone dealing with it. And he was worried, as was Shay, that when she finally let herself feel everything she'd been pushing down, it wouldn't be a pretty sight.
"I know she's alright right now," Shay continued, her words pulling Casey from his thoughts as she paused to take a breath. "But if the time comes where she's not…"
"I got her, Shay." Casey promised, Shay sighing softly before she nodded. "Whatever happens, you don't need to worry about that, she's my only priority here." He told her, the two meeting gazes as he gave her one last assuring nod, before repeating his words.
"I've always got her."
Well, we're now just days away from Walker's release. And we've also got the first Casey/Dawson family dinner coming up in the next chapter, which should be interesting. But I hope you all liked this one, thank you so much for reading!
I hope you all have a great week, and stay safe, everyone xx