Hello everyone! I hope y'all are having a great week so far. I've got the next chapter here for you all, I hope you like it. Most of you seemed to enjoy the last one, and I'm so glad for that. I can't wait for y'all to read this one, hopefully you like it, as well.

If you have the time, I'd really appreciate it if you could leave me a review, and let me know what you think. Thank you so much for reading, and I hope all of you have a great rest of the week.

Stay safe, everyone xx

SIXTY EIGHT

Casey's eyes focused on his girlfriend while she sat on the opposite end of the couch, her gaze plastered on the book in her hands as she was curled up into herself, the throw blanket that usually resided on the back of the couch casually resting over her. They'd been sitting like this during the last hour, the couple having come home straight after shift and gotten comfortable, Matt changing out of his shift clothes into a t-shirt and sweatpants, while Gabby opted for a little less as she was only wearing one of his t-shirts and a pair of underwear, as that was her usual attire when they had nowhere to be. And while he was thankful to be into some comfortable clothes after a long shift, if the temperature in their apartment was any indication, he should've added a few more layers.

It was something he'd known about Gabby ever since the beginning, back when they first started this arrangement of theirs, long before they even got together, and that was that she loved it to be cold. No matter the temperature outside, she always wanted it cold, Matt vividly remembering how she'd told him that she'd rather freeze to death than be hot, which he couldn't help but think was a little dramatic. Though based on how chilly it was right now, he figured she meant it, the temperature in their home mimicking the cooler fall air that had set in outside as her desire for it to always be cold certainly hadn't changed since they moved in together.

And while he did find it to be a bit unusual and he didn't quite understand it, he never questioned it, it just becoming one of the things in their relationship that he let her dictate, as he would rather himself be a little chilly than have Gabby be uncomfortable. Though, he had a feeling the only reason she was so comfortable right now was because she had their blanket all to herself.

"...Matt?"

Casey's vision came into focus when he registered her saying his name, the man blinking quickly a few times as he was pulled from his thoughts before he looked to her, finding her tired, expectant eyes on him as her head was tilted to the side slightly, Matt soon understanding his name likely wasn't the first words she'd said to him.

"I'm sorry, what'd you say?" He questioned back, Gabby raising her eyebrows slightly.

"You're staring at me." She commented, Matt pursing his lips together as his eyes traced over her for a moment, trying to decide how best to proceed with this conversation. Though seeing that she seemed to be relatively alright, he decided to keep things light, a soft smile forming over his face as he looked down to her lap.

"Yeah, well I was just wondering if you were ever gonna share that blanket." He replied lightly, Gabby fighting off her own smile as she registered his words, Matt able to tell that she likely was expecting him to say something else, but she played along regardless.

"You want my blanket, huh?" She asked, Casey clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth before he nodded.

"I mean, I'd be fine with sharing… It's just a bit cold in here." He teased, earning a scoff from her before she placed her bookmark in her book, Gabby leaning forward to set it down on the coffee table.

"I might be able to be persuaded to come join you over there…" She told him, Matt's grin widening slightly as they locked eyes. "...But I need something to drink first." She added, Casey nodding understandingly as she tossed the blanket onto the back of the couch, the abrupt change in temperature causing a chill to course through her body as the air hit her bare legs. "Do you want anything?"

"I'm fine, thank you though." He replied, Gabby giving him a quick nod before she shuffled forward.

Pushing herself up from the couch, Matt's shirt rested just below her hips as she walked towards the kitchen, the man adjusting his angle in his seat so he could see her. His eyes stayed focused on her as she moved around their home, Gabby grabbing a glass from the cabinet before walking towards the fridge, her back to him while she got her drink.

But as she stood there, he couldn't help but notice how she kept looking off to the side, confusion covering his face as he continued watching her. Every few seconds, she'd glance towards the door before looking back down, Gabby soon finishing getting her drink and turning back towards the counter, Matt unsure of what she was doing. Though before he could question it, she began to walk around the counter, Casey figuring she was coming back towards him. But her path changed abruptly at the last minute, Gabby stopping herself and placing her glass of ice water down on their island in the kitchen before she walked towards the foyer, Matt watching her until she was out of sight.

He wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, Casey unable to see her as she'd disappeared down the hallway, but after a few long moments she reappeared, Gabby's eyes focused forward as she walked back to the counter like nothing had happened, the woman grabbing her drink and beginning to walk back towards him. But the second she caught his confused gaze, her steps slowed for a second, Gabby swallowing the lump that had quickly formed in her throat.

"Everything okay?" He asked her softly, his gaze flickering back towards the hallway before he looked back towards her, Gabby giving him a quick nod.

"Yeah, I'm fine… I was just, uh- I was making sure the door was locked." She told him quietly, almost like she was embarrassed of her words as realization quickly washed over him before he gave her a soft nod, Matt doing what he could to mask the frown that was desperate to form over his face.

Hearing what she was doing, he couldn't say he was surprised as she'd been like this all morning. He'd noticed it the second they woke up, and it was especially evident when they were leaving the firehouse; how she'd been on edge, and constantly looking over her shoulder. How she was seemingly tense all the time, Matt well aware of just how nervous today was making her.

Though it had been this way all day on shift yesterday, too, despite the fact she tried to hide it from everyone else, Matt seeing just how hard to reach and lost in her head she'd been while they were at work. And that behavior only continued into the night, as he knew first hand how little sleep she'd gotten as she'd spent the night with him in his office as opposed to being out in the bunkroom, that being his own idea after seeing how much the day had taken a toll on her.

And he understood it, with today being what it was, with the man that abused her now being free to roam the streets of Chicago, he completely got why all of this was so hard on her, though he'd tried not to bring it up. After her breakdown the other night, he'd been careful about the topic, Matt not commenting on it unless she did, as he didn't want to say or do anything that might push her over that edge again. Because regardless of how much he felt like that moment in their bathroom needed to happen, how she needed to let go of everything she'd been holding onto for months, that didn't make it any easier to witness. So he'd done all he could to support her, while letting her take the lead on how they approached the sensitive subject that was Bryan Walker.

But if this moment was any indication, Matt knew he might need to say something, the boyfriend just hating that she felt so scared in the first place. He hated that she had a reason to feel like this, and he'd do anything to make it stop.

Giving her a soft smile, Gabby relaxed before she continued walking towards him, Matt shifting back to his previous position as she came around to the front of the couch, his girlfriend giving him a weak smile of her own. "Yeah, I locked it when we got home, babe." He reminded her gently, knowing Gabby had seen him do it, after she'd all but jogged to their front door and hurried inside the second they got home this morning, clearly not wanting to be out longer than necessary.

With a slight nod, Gabby placed the glass of water down on coaster on top of the end table beside him, Matt not missing how she glanced back towards their windows and stared at them for a few seconds, like she was making sure the curtains that blacked out the world around them were still drawn, before she stepped around him and sat back down on the couch, Matt's heart breaking a little more as he was beginning to realize how she couldn't even entirely feel safe in their own home.

"Right, yeah…" She responded, shaking her head slightly. "I just wanted to check, sorry."

"It's alright." He assured her without hesitation, Gabby drawing in a deep breath after meeting his worried gaze, her bottom lip tucking in between her teeth as she began to gnaw on her skin, Matt noticing the telltale signs of her anxiousness creeping in. "...Do you wanna talk about it?" He asked softly, watching as her leg began to bounce up and down slightly, his eyes moving over her face before finding her gaze yet again.

"It's- it's nothing, really, I don't know… It's stupid." She rambled out, his eyebrows furrowing as she looked down to her lap. "I mean, I know I shouldn't be worrying about it, he's not allowed to come near me, but…" She trailed off, drawing in a deep breath as she struggled to voice what was going on in her head.

Releasing a soft sigh, Matt leaned forward to place his own book down on the coffee table, Gabby watching as he adjusted himself on the couch, the man getting comfortable against the armrest while he lifted his leg up on the furniture and rested it against the back of the couch, his other staying planted on the floor as Casey extended his arm out, inviting her towards him.

"Come here." He prompted softly, Gabby not hesitating at all before she got up off the couch enough to be able to move closer to him, her body falling comfortably against his as she nestled herself into him, her head resting against his chest as her arms wrapped around his waist. As she settled in between his legs, he reached for the blanket that was resting on the back of the couch and tossed it over them, Matt feeling her snuggle deeper into him as he leaned back against the furniture, Gabby listening to the steady thumping of his heartbeat against her ear, the sound calming her as his arms tightened around her body.

They sat like this uninterrupted for a few quiet moments, Matt rubbing his hand up and down her back soothingly while the other rested over her hip. Though he wanted to talk to her, he knew there was only so much he could say that hadn't been said a hundred times, Matt having done all he could to reassure her as of late. But it didn't matter to him how often he had to repeat himself, as Gabby was the only thing that mattered here. And if what she needed was for him to continually promise that everything would be alright, that's exactly what he'd do.

But he didn't get the chance to as Gabby spoke up before he could say anything, her voice breaking the silence.

"...Do you think he'll try and see me?"

Her words initially took him by surprise, Matt not anticipating that question from her as he felt her arms tighten around his waist, the man staying quiet for a few seconds as he tried to think over how to best answer her. He couldn't lie to her, and he wouldn't, but he knew he didn't really have an answer for her. Not when he had no idea what was going on in Walker's head.

"I mean, I don't know, part of me thinks he's not stupid enough to do anything," She continued when he had yet to say anything, the comfort of his hold helping her feel safe and secure. "But I know him, probably better than anyone… Or at least I used to, but I know he wanted to see me before, and I never went. So I'm not sure if that'll-" She cut herself off, Matt feeling her tense underneath his hold for a split second before she relaxed, Gabby taking a slow, steadying breath. "I don't know, I just wanna know what you think… You're the one who's seen him." She finished as she kept her ear pressed to his chest, Matt wincing slightly as she mentioned his ill-advised trip to the prison; one he didn't regret, he'd just wished he'd handled it differently.

He continued to stay silent for a few more seconds, Matt carefully thinking over his next words, his hand still rubbing over her back comfortingly. "...Honestly? I don't know what he'll do, if he'll do anything." He breathed out, Matt instantly wishing he could give her any more assurance than that. "I really don't, baby."

"...Yeah." She agreed quietly, Matt releasing a soft sigh before pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

"But you are right, after how he got off easy, I would like to think he knows better than to try and see you, but I'm not sure… When I went to see him, I know I told you how he was, he was angry, and kept saying how he wanted to see you," He treaded carefully, hating the way her body involuntarily tightened, "how he wanted to apologize, which I know was bullshit. But that was like a month and a half ago, so I'm not sure how much that's changed…" He trailed off, knowing his words likely weren't very comforting right now, but they couldn't ignore the realities of the situation. "But what I do know is that no matter what, I'll do everything I can to make sure he doesn't even have the chance to get near you again…"

"I know." She murmured, a small smile forming over his face when he felt her turn her head to press a gentle kiss against his covered chest, Matt giving her hip a gentle squeeze.

"And I know this isn't easy baby, that you just want this to be over, and I know you're scared… I wish there was anything I could do to make that feeling go away, but what I can promise you is that I'm here. And anything I can do to keep you safe, I'll do it…" He told her, Matt keeping his voice steady as they sat cuddled together on the couch. "Though I know you don't need protecting… You're the strongest person I know, and you can handle yourself, but this- this isn't something you should have to carry alone."

He felt her release a heavy sigh, his eyebrows furrowing as she began to mess with the material of his shirt on his back, Gabby pursing her lips together tightly. "Yeah, I don't know if that's true…" She breathed out quietly, her vulnerability shining through in her words, Matt unsure of what she was talking about until she continued. "I don't feel very strong right now."

"You are." He replied the second she finished speaking, his voice holding nothing but truth. "Believe me baby, you are so strong. Please don't even doubt that… You are the strongest person I've ever met, you being affected by all this doesn't change that." He told her, wrapping both arms around her as his forearms rested over her back, keeping her as close as he possibly could.

A soft silence fell over them for a few moments, Gabby gripping his shirt in her hand as she adjusted her positioning against him, the woman moving to lay on her stomach as she turned her head towards the back of the couch, Matt getting more comfortable as well. The sounds of their breathing were all that could really be heard, Gabby's head tucked just underneath his chin as he lifted his other leg up onto the couch and rested it over the back of her calf, Matt's body completely cradling hers.

"...You know what I think we should do?" He asked after a couple of minutes when it became clear Gabby wasn't going to say anything, his voice gaining her attention as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Hmm?"

"I think we should stay in the next few days," He suggested, Gabby raising her eyebrows as she listened to him, despite the fact that he couldn't see her. "With everything going on, I think we should just do nothing except sit at home and spend some time together… Just you and me." He continued, Gabby smiling softly as she was already starting to feel relaxed at the idea.

"Yeah?"

"Mhmm… I know you're supposed to work at Molly's tomorrow, but how about we get Shay to cover for you, and then we can just have a few days to ourselves before work." He elaborated as Gabby ran her thumb along his lower back before she nodded against his chest.

"I like the sound of that." She replied softly, Matt smiling proudly before he nodded as well.

"Then that's what we'll do… No outside world, no worrying about anything else, just you and me."

"Just you and me." She repeated quietly, her smile only growing when she felt him press another kiss to the top of her head, Gabby nearly melting into him as a rush of different emotions flooded through her.

She knew she couldn't avoid this forever, that she couldn't hide out and refuse to live her life because of him. And she wouldn't. She didn't want to give him that kind of control over her, not more than he already had. But it was hard, because she couldn't shake the nervous feelings that had already started to set in any time she thought about the fact that Bryan was now a free man. How, right at this moment, he was out there in Chicago. It was an unsettling feeling, to say the least, especially after how hard these last few days had been, and there was a small voice in the back of her head that she couldn't help but listen to, telling her that it was okay. It was okay that she needed some time, that she didn't feel ready to face the world right now. That it was alright how she wasn't alright.

And it wasn't lost on her how that small voice sounded an awful lot like Matt.

Letting her eyes fall closed again, she continued to focus on the steady thumping of his heartbeat in her ear, his warmth drawing her in as she snuggled against him, Gabby feeling compelled to be as close to him as she possibly could, knowing how he was what she needed to hold onto right now. That, as hard as this was, and as hard as it would likely continue to be for a while, as long as she had Matt, she knew she'd be okay.

"...I don't know what I'd do without you." She whispered after a couple long minutes, her words barely audible as a sad smile formed over his face, Matt giving her body another firm squeeze before he moved his hand down to her hip, his palm sliding underneath the back of her shirt and resting on top of her warm skin, the man knowing how much that always calmed her.

"Yeah, well you'll never have to find that out." He murmured as his words brought a small smile to her face, the two falling right back into that comfortable silence as they held onto each other, this time with him being exactly what Gabby needed right now.

He was all she needed.

"There you go." Shay spoke to the customer across the bar from her as she handed him the drink, the man offering her a smile and a tip before he walked away. Tossing the bar rag over her shoulder, the blonde's eyes surveyed the somewhat empty bar, the slow night not exactly great for business, or for Shay as it hadn't proved to be the type of distraction she was hoping for.

When Casey had called yesterday and asked her to cover the shift tonight for Dawson, she immediately agreed, no questions asked. Because while she hadn't had the chance to speak to her partner, with as tense as Gabby had been when they left shift yesterday, she could only imagine the last couple of days hadn't been easy, and all Shay wanted to do was help in whatever ways she could. So if covering for her at Molly's tonight was what Gabby needed, she'd do it.

"Well, I guess it's just one of those nights." Herrmann spoke up as he walked towards her, Shay looking up as she leaned her weight into the countertop, her eyes locking on the older man as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Not many people wanting to come out tonight, I guess."

"Yeah, I guess so." She agreed with a small smile, Herrmann pursing his lips together before he glanced out towards the room, Shay following his gaze before he looked back to her, almost like he was checking to see if anyone was around.

"So, uh… Dawson was supposed to work tonight, wasn't she?" He questioned softly, Shay drawing in a deep breath before she nodded, the woman angling her body towards him.

"Yeah, she was… But Casey called me, asked me to cover." She replied carefully, Herrmann pausing for a moment before he gave her a nod of his own.

"Did he- Did he say why?" He questioned, Shay tilting her head to the side slightly. "I mean, is she okay? Or is it just with everything…"

"He didn't give specifics, no." She answered quickly with a slight shrug, indicating she didn't have much of an answer for him, Herrmann releasing a soft sigh before nodding once more. "I've only talked to him the one time, and it wasn't for very long… He just asked me to cover for her, and I said yes. Figured he wouldn't ask unless it was necessary." She breathed out, not missing the wince that covered Herrmann's face as he shook his head.

"That's what I'm worried about… With Dawson, and all this." He replied, Shay biting down on her lip before she nodded in agreement. "And I don't blame the kid for being upset over all this, hell I'm upset and it didn't happen to me, I just- I wish there was something else we could do for her…" He continued, Shay nodding in agreement as she tapped her fingertips on top of the bar.

"I know what you mean, I do too." She agreed, her spine straightening slightly as she broke eye contact with him. "But this really has nothing to do with us… It's not anything she needs from us, aside from us just trying to keep things as normal as we can, but it's more what she doesn't need from him…" Shay told him, realization washing over Herrmann as he understood exactly what she meant, the man leaning his hip into the counter as he looked at her.

"There hasn't been any sign of him, has there?" He asked quickly, his eyebrows knitted together tightly as his entire body tensed, Shay shaking her head slightly.

"Not that I know of, no… but I haven't really spoken to Dawson, I'm trying to give her space, and when I talked to Casey, he didn't mention anything. And I know Severide's talked to him a few times, Kelly said he'd be here soon, so we can ask him, but as far as I know, Walker hasn't tried to see her yet… Though it hasn't even been 48 hours since he got out, so I don't know. But I don't think he's tried to contact her." She hurried out, Herrmann sensing just how anxious the entire topic made her. And he understood it, knowing how hard Shay had taken all of this happening to her best friend.

"Well… if he has any sense, it'll stay that way." Herrmann replied shortly, Shay nodding in agreement just as a customer came up to them, both knowing their conversation would have to be put on pause so they could work.

Outside the bar, Severide locked up his car before pocketing his keys into his jacket, the man looking both ways before he began to cross the street towards the bar, knowing his friend was waiting for him inside. But as he got about halfway across the pavement, his steps slowed when he noticed something peculiar, Severide coming to an almost complete stop as he took in the sight of a man sitting on the hood of his car down at the end of the street in the opposite direction of the bar, Kelly's spine straightening when he realized exactly who was sitting there.

Changing his path instantly, Severide felt a burst of anger rush through him as his fists clenched by his sides, the Lieutenant noticing the smile on the man's face as he eventually got closer, a hearty chuckle escaping his lips when he saw Kelly walking with a determination towards him.

"You must be pretty fucking stupid." Severide spat the second he was close enough, his rough steps continuing as Bryan leaned unbothered against the hood of his car, his arms crossed over his chest with that same, smug grin Kelly had seen hundreds of times over the years resting across his face.

"Well, it's nice seeing you again too, Severide." Walker replied with another laugh, Kelly immediately shaking his head as he stopped a few feet from him. From what he could tell, Bryan looked pretty much the same as he had the last time he'd seen him all those months ago, and he clearly hadn't lost the attitude either, it taking all the willpower in the world for Kelly to not pummel the man across from him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He shot back, ignoring Walker's words as Bryan gave a soft shrug, his eyes moving around the nearly empty street before finding Kelly's unwelcoming gaze.

"Just taking in the old sights now that I'm a free man." He responded, his smile on growing as he pushed himself up off the car, the man now eye-level with Severide, though Kelly didn't back down.

"You need to leave." He growled, Walker scoffing as his eyes moved down the road towards the direction of Molly's before shaking his head.

"Severide-"

"Stay the fuck away from her, Bryan." He all but shouted, the former firefighter raising his eyebrows as his head cocked to the side. "You know what'll happen if you go near her, just leave her the hell alone. How many times does it have to be said for you to understand she wants absolutely nothing to do with you?!" He finished angrily, Severide barely able to look at the man he once called his best friend, knowing how badly he'd hurt the person he claimed to love.

"Would you calm down, Kelly, I'm not here for her." He replied simply, Severide's glare narrowing even more. "I'm not trying to see Dawson, I just came by to see everyone else… You know, it's been awhile and all that," He continued, Kelly's angry look morphing into a near disturbed one, as he couldn't fathom how Walker could ever think they'd want to see him. "But since I'm not really allowed inside-"

"You're not allowed here, period." He cut him off, Bryan giving him a look before he continued on as if Kelly had said nothing.

"Since I'm not allowed inside, I had to wait out here… You know, that stupid restraining order and everything." He spoke with a laugh, Kelly grimacing at how carefree the man seemed. How he didn't seem to care at all about what he'd done, or the people he'd hurt, Severide feeling sick to his stomach as he was yet again reminded of just how much he'd misjudged him.

"You mean the necessary restraining order?" Severide questioned back after a moment of silence, Bryan's smile widening before he shook his head.

"Kelly, let's not do this-"

"No, I think we should do this." He interrupted again, Walker's light attitude slowly faltering as the smile on his face fell. "We should absolutely do this, considering your ass spent three months in prison, and you still are acting like this."

"Acting like what?" He asked with a scoff, Bryan barely able to get the words out before Severide replied.

"Acting like you have no idea what you did!" He yelled, Bryan's eyebrows raising slightly as Severide took a step forward. "You're more upset about the fact you can't go into a bar, then you were about the fact that you beat Dawson! That you fucking choked her! You're nothing but a piece of shit, who should've rot in that cell!" He was practically screaming at this point, Walker seemingly unfazed by his outburst as Severide caught his breath, Bryan shaking his head slightly. "...What?" He spat, Bryan unable to stop his laugh before he ran a hand over his mouth. "I would love to know what's so funny…"

"Nothing, it's just- You really don't get it, do you?" He questioned, confusion covering Severide's face.

"What are you talking about?"

"Don't you think if I should've been in that cell, I'd still be there?" Bryan asked him, Kelly's guard going back up as he glared at the man. "I never should've been in there in the first place, I didn't deserve to go to prison-"

"You've gotta be kidding me." Severide mumbled under his breath. "You really are that big of an asshole, aren't you? Even after you owned up to it yourself, after Gabby told her brother everything you did, you're still here lying, acting like you didn't spend years abusing Dawson."

"I never did a thing to her…" He cut in, the smirk on his face growing before he continued. "Nothing she didn't want, anyway."

Severide felt as if his skin began to crawl, the firefighter finding it harder and harder to resist knocking out the man in front of him as he shook his head angrily. "You are fucking unbelievable." He replied roughly, Bryan merely laughing before he shrugged. "You tried to fucking ruin her life, you beat her just because you could, and then terrorized her even after you broke up with her… Quit acting like she asked for that. Just get the fuck out of here, and stay away from Dawson." He barked, Walker waving him off.

"Say whatever you want, Severide, but I know the truth." He responded before turning to walk to his car door, Kelly never taking his eyes off of him. "And I know Gabby's made it her mission to get everyone to feel sorry for her, all cause she couldn't just keep her damn mouth shut, and keep her legs closed, but believe me, if you had to put up with half of the bullshit I did from her, you'd understand… And like I'd want anything to do with that whore anymore anyway." He added as he opened his door, Bryan meeting Severide's glare. "Casey can have her… Or whatever poor guy she's convinced to fuck her, since I'm sure the Lieutenant's left her by now… But trust me, I'm done with that bitch." He finished before sitting down in his car, Kelly clenching his neck tightly as he took a step away from the vehicle.

"Stay the fuck away from here, Walker." He warned him one last time before he continued across the road, Bryan unable to stop his smile from growing as he shut his door, Severide's body language alone telling him all he needed to know about how much he'd gotten under his skin. And as he sat there and watched Severide continue towards the bar, he had a strong feeling in his gut that this had gone exactly the way he hoped, the man knowing Kelly had believed every word he said.

Severide practically ripped open the door to Molly's, anger coursing through him as he stomped into the room, his eyes bouncing around the bar as he looked for one person in particular, the man practically holding his breath as he waited to see her. But luckily, he never did, Severide feeling himself relax for a slight moment when he remembered something about Shay saying she was covering for her, though he still needed to be sure.

When he caught sight of the other woman he was looking for, he headed in her direction, Shay looking up when she noticed the abrupt movement out of the corner of her eye.

"Hey Kelly- What's wrong?" She asked immediately when she noticed his tense demeanor, Kelly coming up to stand across from her and Herrmann at the bar, both of them staring at him expectantly as he gripped the edge of the counter.

"Where's Dawson?" He questioned back quickly, Shay soon wearing a look of confusion across her face.

"What?"

"Gabby… She's not here, is she?" He asked again, earning quick head shakes from both Herrmann and Shay.

"No, she's at home with Casey, as far as I know." Shay replied, Kelly's body relaxing even more before he nodded, though he knew this conversation was far from over. "...Why? What's going on?" She pressed, crossing her arms over her chest.

Drawing in a deep breath, Severide looked back towards the closed door to the bar, his gaze lingering there for a few moments before he returned his focus to his friends, Kelly doing his best to keep his voice steady as he spoke. "Bryan was here."

He saw the initial shock that consumed both of them, before it soon morphed into anger; though Shay got there faster than Herrmann as her eyes darkened almost immediately.

"...What?" She questioned, though they all had heard him, Kelly shaking his head slightly before he took a step closer to the countertop.

"Walker, he was here… just outside, before I came in." He elaborated, Shay clenching her jaw as she looked towards the door as well, the woman shaking her head before she tossed her rag down onto the bar.

"I'm gonna kill him." She snarled, Severide immediately shaking his head before he reached across the bar to grab her, effectively stopping her from moving too far. "Kelly-"

"He's not here." He continued, Herrmann releasing a heavy breath as Shay focused on Severide. "I got him to leave, he's gone… Told him never to come back." He explained, seeing varying degrees of rage coming from both Herrmann and Shay.

"Unbelievable… I can't believe he showed up here." Herrmann muttered, Shay clenching her hands together tightly as she shook her head once more.

"I'm gonna fucking kill him, Kelly," She repeated, her voice holding nothing but contempt for that man. "That piece of shit, I'm going to kill him. It's bad enough he did what he did to Gabby, but now he's already coming around trying to scare her, when he's been out, what? … For hardly a day, that fucking asshole, I'm going to kill him-"

"He said he wasn't here to see Gabby." Kelly cut in, hoping that would deter his best friend's threats of murder for a moment, but it only seemed to enrage her further as a heavy scoff left her lips, her dark eyes darkening even more.

"Oh, bullshit." She spat, shaking her head in disgust. "He was here for her, of course he was. I don't care what he said, there's no reason he'd come here aside from wanting to mess with her, because he's a fucking psychopath!" She shouted, her loud voice gaining the attention of the few patrons left in the bar, though she didn't seem to care.

"Shay…" Herrmann tried, but Severide spoke up before she could say anything.

"I'm just telling you what he told me… You're right, he's crazy for even coming here at all, but that's just what he said… He said he was done with Gabby, that that's not what this was." He explained, giving her the toned down version of the heartless man's words as he knew they would only enrage her further. "He said he wanted to see us, which I don't get considering we all hate him… But he seemed to be telling the truth... I don't know, I'm not inclined to believe anything that comes out of his mouth, but I don't think he was here for her." Severide spoke cautiously, Shay biting down roughly on the inside of her cheek as his words sunk in, her anger fading only slightly.

"...Why does he think we'd want to see him either?" Herrmann questioned, the older man looking back and forth between the roommates, both of them wearing unsure looks.

"I… I honestly don't know. But it took everything in me not to beat his ass to a pulp." Severide replied gruffly, Herrmann giving him a slow, understanding nod.

"You should've." Shay chimed in harshly, before bringing her hand up to rest over her mouth, the blonde clearly needing a minute for this all to sink in, the weight of everything starting to hit her, as she was sure Herrmann and Severide were feeling the same way.

Bryan had come here… He'd come here, to Gabby's bar, without a care in the world. And though he'd been cautious enough to not actually step foot on the property, that seemed to be all he cared about as he had no worries about being anywhere near here.

And that was an unsettling thought, one that made Shay's stomach turn, knowing that he had as much freedom as he did. That he was just out there, free to go almost anywhere he wanted, the whole thing nearly making her sick as the weight of this only continued to mount on her shoulders, Shay realizing that this must've been only a fraction of what Gabby had been feeling every single day.

"...We should call Casey." Herrmann spoke up after a few moments, Shay and Severide both looking towards him as he focused on Kelly. "I don't- I don't know if he meant it, that he wasn't here for Gabby, but they need to know." He told them, Severide drawing in a deep breath before he nodded and reached into his pocket for his phone.

He could feel them watching him the entire time as he dialed Casey's number and put the phone up to his ear, as well as while he stood there and listened to it ring, his friend never answering as it soon went to voicemail. Blowing out a sigh, Severide waited for the tone, before leaving him a quick message. One that he hoped Matt would return sooner rather than later.

"Hey Casey, it's Kelly, just calling to see if you had a minute to talk… Hope you and Dawson are alright, call me back when you get this... Bye."

Casey rolled out his neck as he and Gabby walked up the driveway towards the firehouse, the man staying as alert as he possibly could as he noticed his girlfriend looking back behind them every few moments, Matt giving her hand that was clasped in his a firm squeeze every time he felt like she needed it. It was something he did to keep her grounded, to remind her that he was here, as he knew she was still feeling a bit anxious at the idea of coming to work today. Though, despite his efforts, she hadn't wanted to call in sick, so here they were; even though neither of them hadn't gotten nearly enough sleep for the work they'd have to do over the next twenty four hours.

The second they got into the garage, he could sense Gabby felt a little more at ease, Matt offering her a warm smile as they continued towards the firehouse.

"Hey Casey, Dawson." Cruz greeted simply from his seat at the squad table, both first responders giving him a nod.

"Hey Cruz." Casey responded as they continued walking past the table, though they weren't able to get very far when they heard his voice once more.

"Oh, and uh- I know you just got here, but I think Severide was looking for you- Oh, there he is." Joe spoke as Kelly walked out through the double doors, his eyes immediately finding both Casey and Dawson as they stood by the table. And it wasn't lost on Matt how a quick flash of relief flickered in the man's eyes, though he just wasn't sure why it was there. "Severide, you wanted to talk to Casey, yeah?"

"Yeah, I was looking for you." He replied somewhat hurriedly as he came to a stop in front of them, Gabby looking back and forth curiously between the two men as Severide took quick notice of just how worn down both Dawson and Casey looked, there being a level of exhaustion present in their features that went beyond just being tired. "I was hoping you and I could talk?" He spoke pointedly towards Casey, Matt's eyebrows furrowing as his confusion only grew, the truck Lieutenant glancing towards his girlfriend, finding her equally as unsure as he was, but she merely shrugged, Gabby slowly dropping his hand.

"I'm gonna head inside… Want me to take your stuff?" She offered, Matt giving her a quick once over before he nodded, sliding the bag down off his shoulder and handing it to her.

"Thanks babe." He murmured, Gabby responding with a soft nod, giving a quick greeting to Severide before she walked towards the firehouse, Matt keeping his eyes on her until she was out of sight. Then the second she was, his confusion returned as he glanced at his friend, seeing just how on edge he was. "What do you need to talk about?"

Before he answered, Severide smacked his lips together, the man looking around and finding a few too many pairs of eyes on them, far too many for comfort with what they needed to discuss. So without saying a word, Kelly nodded back towards the coat room, Matt's eyebrows furrowing as he began to walk away, though he followed after him anyway, waiting for him to punch in the code before they stepped inside the empty room, letting the door fall closed behind them.

"What's going on, Sev?" He asked the second they were alone, Casey crossing his arms over his chest as Kelly ran his hand along the side of his face.

"Is everything okay?" He questioned back, Matt never losing that unsure look on his face as he didn't know exactly what his friend was asking, considering what was going on with Gabby right now.

"What?"

"You didn't answer my call last night, or call me back." He explained, watching the realization set in across his friend's face before he nodded.

"Oh, right, that- I'm sorry, I didn't see it until this morning." He replied, Kelly giving him an understanding nod. "It was… Well, it was a long night, I wasn't really paying attention to my phone." He added, his words causing Severide's ears to perk up, as the same worry he'd felt all last night started to come back with a vengeance.

"What happened?" He questioned, as Matt drew in a deep breath. While Kelly was mainly asking so he could be sure his friends were alright, he also knew it couldn't hurt for Casey to have someone to talk to, as Severide was sure this had everything to do with Dawson. And with Matt so focused on taking care of her, Kelly knew what kind of toll that could take on a person.

"It's uh- it's just Gabby… This Walker stuff, it's really messing with her." He spoke lowly, Kelly grimacing as he shook his head, Matt trying to think over how much he should divulge to his friend. "It's all just been… it's been pretty up and down for her." He continued as he released a heavy, tired sigh, his words holding a lot more truth that Severide could ever realize.

Though he'd been expecting it, Gabby had been very much all over the place the last few days; there were moments she was alright and seemed to be handling things, and others where that clearly wasn't the case. There'd been moments where she'd broken down, then others where she was just angry, both of which usually ended in tears. Moments when she just couldn't understand why all this was happening. And then other times, she was okay. And all of it, it was a lot to deal with, and Matt would be lying if he said he wasn't feeling a little physically and mentally exhausted from it all.

But he also knew that no matter what he felt, it was all the worse for Gabby, so he'd just tried to focus on doing what he promised he'd do, and that was be there for her. Every step of the way.

"She's struggling, it's been hard, and she's just- she's worried. She's afraid that he'll try and do something to her, and I think she's scared for me, too." He breathed out, Severide listening intently as Casey got this all off his chest. "And we're both just kinda messed up right now, our schedules and everything… Then leaving this morning, it was the first time we'd left the apartment since last shift, so that was a little…" He trailed off, waving his hand around in the air to emphasize what he didn't know how to voice. "But, at least right now, she's seemed to be alright. This morning went better than I thought it would…"

"That's good." Kelly replied encouragingly, hating to hear how hard this had all been on his friends. "And she's okay? I mean- okay enough to be here." He corrected himself when he saw the look on Casey's face. "You both are?"

"Yeah, she is… She's okay as she's gonna be, at least right now." He responded softly, Severide frowning slightly before giving him a nod. "I mean, the guy who abused her is walking around as a free man, so we're dealing with it the best way we can…"

"I know you are." Severide told him, Matt catching his gaze. "And you know all of us are here for you, if you need anything."

"We know, and we appreciate it… Trust me. But being here, and having you guys, I think will help her a lot." Matt replied, Kelly nodding once more before the truck Lieutenant blew out a heavy breath and took a slight step backwards. "And I appreciate the concern, for me and Gabby both." He added, Kelly smiling softly before Casey began moving towards the door.

"Wait- Casey." Severide's voice stopped him, Matt turning back around with raised eyebrows. "...The reason I called you last night."

"Oh, yeah." He responded, clearly having forgotten about it as he stepped back towards his friend. "What's up?"

Pursing his lips together, Kelly paused for a moment, trying to think over how to best approach the topic, especially after hearing about how hard things had been on them. But regardless of how much he didn't want to bring it up, he knew he had no choice; they needed to know, Gabby needed to know, and this wasn't something he could keep from them.

"Sev?" Casey questioned when he had yet to say anything, Kelly blowing out a harsh breath before he spoke up.

"...Walker came to Molly's last night." He spoke quickly, knowing he just needed to get the words out.

But the second he did, Matt's entire body tensed, his face falling before a look of complete and utter rage covered his features. "...What?" He questioned, his voice not even sounding like his own as his single word was barely audible, Severide sighing softly before he began to explain to Casey exactly what happened.

And he made sure to leave nothing out; from the second he saw Walker outside, to all that had been said, to everything that happened with Shay and Herrmann, he told him all of it, Matt remaining silent the entire time as he listened to everything being told to him. The look of anger had never left his face, and it only became more apparent when he'd learned what exactly Walker had said about Gabby, Severide doing what he could to get a read on him, though it was nearly impossible.

"And then that's when I called you, and was gonna tell you what happened… But you were helping Dawson, I guess." Severide finished, Matt running his tongue along the inside of his cheek before he breathed deeply, the man shaking his head before looking down towards the ground.

Lifting his hand up, he ran it over his mouth, a range of conflicting emotions taking over as he tried to focus, though it was becoming more and more difficult with every passing second as his anger was beginning to take over.

"I'm really sorry, man… I mean, maybe he meant it, but we all agreed you needed to know-"

"There's no way he means it." Casey spoke roughly, those being the first words he'd said in a while as Severide pursed his lips together. "He was there because of her… I don't care what he told you, it was bullshit."

Severide opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, they both heard the sound of the numbers of the keypad being pressed, Matt turning back towards the door just as it opened, both men soon seeing Dawson come into view as she took a step inside.

"Hey, sorry…" She started as the door closed behind her, Matt immediately shaking his head as he did what he could to let go of any anger he was feeling right now, though it was nearly impossible. And he knew Gabby could tell something was wrong. "The guys said you were in here." She continued, Casey forcing a small smile onto his face before he nodded.

"Yeah, we were just talking… You okay?" He questioned, his worry for her taking over as he knew how quickly things could change for her, Gabby's eyes flashing towards Severide for a split second before finding Matt's gaze again.

"Yeah." She replied weakly, the paramedic looking back and forth between them once more, sensing just how tense the air was around them. "...What's going on?"

Taking a deep breath, Matt glanced to Severide before nodding towards the door, silently telling him to give them some space, which was a signal Kelly understood instantly, the man making himself scarce as he disappeared through the far door.

"What is it?" She pressed, crossing her arms over her chest, her eyes focused on her boyfriend as she watched him try and calm himself down, something clearly bothering him as he took a step closer to her, Matt reaching out to place his hand on her arm before he spoke.

"Severide told me that Walker showed up at Molly's last night." He told her carefully, watching as she slowly registered what he was saying, Matt soon seeing an intense look of worry shining back at him.

"He… What?" She questioned, her voice sounding a little lost as Matt rubbed her arm gently, the man pushing his own feelings aside as he focused on her.

"He showed up at Molly's… He didn't try to go in or anything, but he was there outside. Severide spoke with him, basically told him to never come back." He explained carefully, Gabby remaining quiet as she looked down in between them, her body unsteady as he knew this was exactly what she'd been afraid of. "Kelly, he said Bryan told him he wasn't there to see you," Those words grabbed her attention, Gabby looking back up at him for a moment. "That he was just there to see them, but I don't… I don't know if that's the truth. But he was at Molly's."

Gabby merely nodded as she slowly digested what had been said to her, Matt's worried gaze never leaving her as he tried to figure out how she was feeling. While it was something he'd always been good at, Casey able to read her better than anyone else practically since the moment they met, he'd become even more aware of her feelings over the last few weeks, Matt needing to know how she was doing without having to constantly ask her.

But right now… now, he couldn't tell. With her silence, and her refusal to meet his eyes, he couldn't exactly tell what was running through her mind right now, and it only made him that more concerned.

"...What's going on in there?" He asked gently, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she looked up towards him, her glassy eyes causing a deep frown to settle in across his face. "Gabby…"

"I just wish he'd leave me alone." She murmured helplessly, Casey feeling his heart drop into his stomach as he saw her start to revert back into the scared woman he'd seen a lot of these last few days. "I… Severide said he wasn't there to see me, fine. But he still showed up to the bar, he knows exactly what he's doing and I- I want him to leave me alone." She repeated, her hands trembling by her sides as Matt continued to rub her arm.

"I know baby, I'm sorry." He whispered, bringing his other hand up to cradle her cheek, effectively getting her to meet his eyes as he stroked his thumb over her skin. "I wish he would, too… But I'm gonna call Antonio, let him know what happened… It'll be fine, alright? I promise." He assured her, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded, Matt's soothing words able to calm her down slightly as she leaned into his palm. "And I-"

He got cut off by the bells ringing out about them, Casey biting down on his tongue as he heard both ambo and truck being called out to an accident, a slight grimace pulling on his face before he looked to her once more.

"I'll call him when we get back...Are you okay for this?" He questioned before anything else, Gabby biting down on the inside of her cheek before she nodded, Matt already seeing her starting to put that facade back up like she was fine, though she clearly wasn't.

But he wasn't gonna question her; if she said she was good to do this, he believed her.

But that also wouldn't stop him from keeping an eye on her as they walked out of the coat room and towards their rigs, Casey knowing that even though he had a job to focus on, that didn't mean he couldn't look out for his girl, too, the firefighters quickly gearing up before jumping into the rig and heading off to the call, ambo following quickly behind them.