Hello there everyone! I'm back with the next chapter for you all.

But before we start, I do want to apologize that there was no update last week. I tried to get this done, but I ended up spending most of last week pretty sick, and didn't have much time or energy to write. But I'm sorry about that, and to those of you who were waiting for an update. Hopefully this one makes up for it.

I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks for reading!

NINETY FIVE

Casey stared blankly up at the ceiling as their bedroom was bathed in darkness, the warmth in the air doing what it could to combat the brutal cold outside as Matt drew in slow, steady breaths. It was early, earlier than he would've liked to be awake, but when he woke up maybe half an hour ago, he hadn't been able to fall back asleep. His mind seemingly couldn't shut off as there were dozens of thoughts filling his head, so after a while he stopped trying and instead took to lying there quietly, while the woman in his arms slept peacefully.

Her head was resting over his chest, with her arm draped across his waist, the couple still in the same position they'd been in when they fell asleep the night before, as it was one they were both comfortable in. Gabby especially, as by the dead weight he felt against his body, and the soft snores escaping her lips, she was in as deep of a sleep as she could possibly be. Which, given how they would be returning to work today, that was exactly what he wanted for her, as he knew it was important for her to be as well rested as she could be before stepping foot into that firehouse.

It hadn't even been a week since they'd last been there, but, due to Boden's orders, Matt and Gabby hadn't gone to work the last two shifts. With everything that had been going on, their Chief made it known that after their trip to see 51's former firefighter, he didn't want them coming into work. That he wanted them to take some time for themselves, and make sure they were both alright before coming back. Though it didn't take a genius to realize that he was mostly talking about Gabby, not the both of them.

But Matt appreciated it regardless, as he knew these past few days had been good for her. For her to gather her bearings, and to move past some of those lingering emotions she was still holding onto after confronting the man that had hurt her for so long. To make sure they both had clear heads before being back on the job, which was a necessity in their line of work. Even though she didn't necessarily agree at first that they needed that time off, ultimately he knew she welcomed it. And so did he, as it gave him a few extra days to make sure she was okay.

After what happened at the prison, and her breaking down in the parking lot, he wasn't entirely sure where her head was at. He knew that going to see Bryan had helped her, but he still wasn't entirely sure of how she was. And then when days had passed, and she hadn't had another moment like that again; where everything became too much, he wasn't sure what to make of it. Because he didn't know if that meant she actually was alright, or if she was holding back from him, as she'd tended to do in the past. Even without realizing it.

And all of that had left Casey a little concerned. Not that he ever wasn't when it came to her and Walker, but there was a little more lingering worry than usual. But as the dust started to clear, and their days continued on with multiple conversations and talks about how she was feeling, Matt was seeing more and more of how truly alright she was.

That regardless of how hard it had been to go and face Walker, it was exactly what she needed to do, because she was doing as well as he had seen her in a long time.

There hadn't been too big of a change, given how Gabby had done a lot of healing before even going to see Bryan. But what was left of the scars she still had, and the pain and suffering she'd been holding onto, it was like she had finally been able to let that go. Like there was a weight that had lifted off her chest, and she was at a point in her life where she truly was past what happened to her.

The same point that she had been close to for a while, but going to see him was the last step she needed to take before putting this all behind her.

And now that she had, he felt as if he was starting to see flashes of the old Gabby. Like she was back to being the carefree and incredible woman he'd only caught glimpses of in the past. The woman he was sure she used to be, before Walker came into her life and tore it apart.

She was just back to being Gabby, and getting to see her like this, seeing her truly alright and at peace, for maybe the first time since he'd met her, was one of the best feelings in the world. For both of them. And he could only hope things would continue to get better, as all he wanted was for Gabby to be okay.

But right now, he knew she was.

The sound of their alarm blaring pulled him from his thoughts, Matt glancing over to the clock as the loud noise flooded the otherwise silent room, until a few low groans escaped the back of Gabby's throat as she was slowly coming into consciousness.

"No…" She muttered out, Matt biting back a soft grin as leaned over to turn off their alarm, Gabby groaning again as she was forced out of his hold when he moved. But the second he rolled back to her, she held onto him once more, her body pressing into his as she tucked her head deeper into his neck.

"Good morning." He all but whispered into the air that was now silent, Dawson shaking her head roughly as he began to stroke his hand along her arm.

"No." She repeated, though her voice was a bit hard to hear as it was muffled by his body. "It's too early."

He was unable to stop the soft laugh that escaped his lips, Gabby instinctively tightening her hold around his body when he pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "I know it is… But we have to get ready for work." He reminded her, though his words did nothing to persuade her as her tired brain was still in control.

"I'd rather sleep." She continued on, there being a clarity to her words that hadn't been there before, that alone telling him that she was slowly, albeit begrudgingly, waking up.

Glancing over towards the clock, Matt drew in a deep breath before he adjusted her in his arms, the action effectively pulling her even closer before he brought the comforter up higher over their bodies. "We have a few more minutes before we need to get up… We can lay here for a bit." He caved, Matt knowing their early alarm was a godsend in moments like these. "I'll wake you up when it's time."

By the pleased moan he heard come from her, he knew she was on board with the idea, Gabby relaxing a bit more as Matt's eyes moved back towards the ceiling, the man preparing to stay here for just a bit longer before it was time to get up. But before she fell back into her peaceful slumber, a few soft words left her lips just as her breathing evened out.

"...I love you."

Matt released a soft sigh as he stood in front of his open locker door, the man stretching out his tired muscles for a few seconds before reaching in to grab his thicker jacket, the snow on the way in telling him he'd need as many layers as he could possibly get. Sliding the material over his shoulders, he zipped his jacket into place before reaching in and grabbing his beanie and phone from the top shelf of his locker, Matt making sure he had everything he'd need for the day as he knew when the weather outside got bad, so did their calls. But he was so caught up in what he was doing, he didn't notice the second person joining him in the locker room.

It wasn't until they came up behind him and wrapped their arms around his waist that he realized he wasn't alone anymore, a small smile forming over his face as he instantly recognized the warmth resting into him, Matt lifting his hand up to rest over her conjoined ones as Gabby pressed her cheek against his back.

"Hi." She greeted, her voice partially muffled by his jacket, Matt's feet planted firmly on the ground keeping them steady while she hugged herself to him.

"Hi babe." He responded, rubbing his hand over hers as it was clear she was making no effort to move anytime soon. If anything, she only moved closer to him, Casey's eyebrows raising slightly as he was a bit surprised by her clinginess at work. But he'd never complain about it as he loved their moments like this, especially after they hadn't had much of a chance to really see each other this morning. At least not as much as they would've liked.

It sounded a bit silly when the thought crossed his mind, given they lived together, but they hadn't had a lot of time to spend together this morning before work. After their prolonged time in bed where Gabby caught up on some more rest, they were in a bit of a rush to get ready for the day, the pair alternating their showers and breakfast before barely making it out the door on time.

And while they had the entire drive in together, it wasn't filled with much chatter as between the slick and icy roads Casey was driving on, and the thick, heavy snow pelting their windshield the entire time, Matt was more focused on getting them here safely than anything else. So it was nice to have a moment alone now, even though he was sure it would be fleeting as their friends continued to arrive for the day.

"...Your talk with Boden go okay?" Casey asked after a second or two, knowing that's where Gabby had been ever since they arrived at the station maybe ten minutes ago, per Boden's request as he wanted to check in with his PIC before they got the day started. Which Casey couldn't blame him for, as this wasn't really a typical situation.

"Mhmm." She hummed as she nodded against his back before slowly loosening her grip, the action enough to prompt him to turn around and face her. "It did. We're all good."

Her words were vague, but enough for him as he gave her a slight nod before lifting his hand up to brush a few strands of hair behind her ear. "Good." He said, his simple answer bringing a small smile to her face as she took a step back towards him, her eyes flickering to his lips before meeting his gaze once more.

"Yeah." She replied just as quietly, Matt matching her grin before resting his palm over her shoulder. "And, uh, while we have a minute, I wanted to say thank you." She added on, her statement causing a look of confusion to cover his face as his head tilted the side. "I meant to tell you this morning, but I was still a little out of it, and we were kind of rushed…"

"Thank you for what?" He voiced, his uncertainty obvious to her as that smile never left her face.

"For not second guessing me, when I told you I was ready to come back." She responded, a look of realization crossing his features before he smiled once more, Matt nodding slowly just before she leaned herself up to give him a kiss.

"I love you." She murmured when they separated, before he kissed her once more, the two not pulling back this time as Gabby held onto his jacket lightly, doing what she could to keep him close to her.

"Oh God, can you two get a room?"

The couple separated when they heard the familiar, yet unexpected, voice filter into the room, both of them looking over towards the entrance to find Shay standing there with an unimpressed look on her face, while Severide came up behind her, the man looking much more amused by what they walked in on.

"You've been back for like five minutes, and you already can't stop yourself from making out in the locker room?" Shay continued as she walked towards them, Gabby biting down on her bottom lip just as she turned to face her friend, finding a sly grin waiting for her.

"Well, that's what they always do, isn't it?" Severide chimed in shamelessly, as everyone in this room knew this wasn't the first time that they had caught Dawson and Casey making out in the firehouse. "If anything, we're just getting back to normal around here." He added on, Gabby shaking her head as Matt had to fight off the urge to roll his eyes.

"You all are hilarious." Casey spoke with a straight face, Gabby glancing up at him just as Shay got to her.

"I know I am, but enough of that, let me see my girl." She spoke before pulling Dawson into a tight, and somewhat unexpected hug, a soft sound of surprise leaving Gabby's lips before she hugged her back.

"Shay, we talked on the phone like ten times while I was gone, it's not like you haven't seen me." Gabby responded, though she held onto her friend anyway as Shay gave her a slight shrug.

"I don't care, I still missed you." She replied, Dawson's face softening at her words before she held onto her a little tighter, the moment between the two friends causing Matt to smile as he watched them.

"I missed you too, Shay." Gabby told her just as they separated, her eyes flashing behind Shay for a moment before she continued. "And I guess I missed Severide, too." She added on jokingly, Kelly shaking his head in amusement before he came over to give her a hug.

"Yeah, yeah, we missed you around here too, Dawson." He told her before they pulled apart, Matt taking a step to the side to give everyone more room to stand. "It's always weird without you two here."

"Yeah, I know what you mean… But we're back." Gabby replied, Kelly grinning softly before he nodded.

"And thank God for that." Shay chimed in, all eyes in the room moving back to her as Gabby chuckled softly, the blonde paramedic taking a moment to look over her friend as the feeling in the air started to shift slightly, before she eventually spoke up. "So, uh… it's been a day or two since we talked, how are you feeling girl?" She asked, her words holding a lot of meaning as she looked between Casey and Dawson. "You're still doing alright?"

"I am." Gabby answered without an ounce of hesitation, her quick response causing Shay to glance towards Casey for a second, the man merely nodding back at her, giving her all the assurance she needed before returning her attention to Dawson. "I'm doing good."

"That's what I like to hear." Shay replied brightly before taking a slight step back, Severide shifting his weight on his heels as the woman continued. "So, are you two ready to get out there? Pretty sure Herrmann will come looking for you if you don't see him soon." She added on, Gabby smiling softly before she gave her a nod.

"Yeah, I'm ready." She said, glancing towards Matt who gave her a nod before he closed up his locker, the four friends heading out towards the common room. But they only made it to the hallway before Shay spoke up again.

"Oh, before I forget- Dawson, are you all still having that big party at Casa de Casey tomorrow night?" Shay asked with a grin, Gabby's eyebrows raising slightly at her terminology before a soft scoff left her lips.

"Well, I don't think having dinner is the same thing as a big party, but if you're asking are we still all getting together tomorrow night, then yes." She told her, Shay sliding her hands into her pockets as they all walked in a line down the hallway. "It's not anything serious though, just dinner."

"If you say so… I just figured if you were wanting your family, and Matt's mom, and Severide and me there, that it was for a reason." She answered her with a shrug, Gabby merely shaking her head.

"There's no reason." She responded, Matt nodding in agreement from her opposite side when Shay looked his way. "We just thought it would be nice, having everyone over… It's been a little bit since our parents have got together, and I figured you and Kelly might want to come, but you don't have to if you don't want to-"

"Whoa whoa whoa, now hold on. Let's not get too hasty." The blonde cut her off, Gabby biting back a smirk as Casey shook his head in amusement. "Just because I'm curious about whatever this is for, doesn't mean I don't want to come… They'll be free food, and getting to torment you two in front of your parents? I'm in." Shay spoke surely, Dawson rolling her eyes as she heard her boyfriend laugh softly.

"Yeah, count me in, too." Severide added, Gabby clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth before she nodded.

"Yeah, that's what I thought." She replied softly as they neared the common room. "But now that we've figured that out, I think it's time for me to eat some breakfast." She commented, her words causing Shay to look back towards Matt.

"What? You're telling me Casey didn't feed you before you came here? … Come on, man, it's your woman's first day back." Shay teased him, Matt narrowing his eyes in her direction as their steps slowed down.

"Technically it's my first day back, too." He countered, Shay waving him off before he continued. "But even so, I made sure she ate before we left." He defended himself, Gabby taking a slight step away from them as she knew these types of small arguments between Casey and Shay could go on forever.

"He did, but I'm still hungry. So I think I'm gonna make myself some waffles." She spoke, though mostly to Shay as her partner nodded.

"Waffles sound good, actually." She agreed, like she hadn't been berating Casey seconds prior as the foursome finally turned the corner into the common room, Severide and Matt sharing a knowing look while the paramedics stepped in first.

"There she is!" Herrmann greeted, Gabby's smile widening when she saw him as he immediately pushed himself up from the couch. "I was wondering when you were gonna get here, it's great to see you kid." He added on, before wrapping her up in a tight hug, Gabby reciprocating the gesture as a few of her friends and colleagues started to gather around.

"It's good to see you too, Herrmann." She replied, the older man simply nodded before he stepped back to let Mouch in for a hug, Herrmann knowing better than to say much more.

It was no secret around the house as to the trip Dawson had made out to the prison the week before, or why her and Casey hadn't been here the last few shifts. But, as ordered by Boden, they knew to just leave it alone. Even though they'd be lying if they said they weren't incredibly worried about Gabby, and her decision to go and see Walker.

But seeing her now was helping to alleviate those feelings, as she looked to be in as good of spirits as they'd seen her in a long time.

"Yeah, I'm glad to be back." Gabby spoke up, responding to something Cruz had said as the group gathered in a circle just inside the common room, Dawson soon finding her way back by Matt's side before crossing her arms over her chest.

But before anything else could be said, the bells rang out above their heads, calling all companies to an accident a few blocks away, as the first responders started heading out to the garage.

"...Looks like those waffles will have to wait, babe." Matt spoke, pressing a kiss to the side of her head as a soft sigh left her lips, Gabby nodding in response before the couple followed the rest of the house outside and to their respective rigs, the focus around them shifting as they all knew they had jobs to do.

"Help! My daughter, please help!"

The desperate cries from the mother trapped in the car with her child could be heard the second 51 arrived on scene, Casey jumping down from the rig as soon as possible as the snow crunched beneath his feet, his eyes moving around quickly before he headed towards the wreckage.

It was a bad scene, there was no doubt about it, as there were at least four cars involved in this collision. But it was one in particular that caught their attention, the one they knew they needed to go to first, as it was holding the woman and her child.

The same one that was hanging halfway off the bridge.

"Help me, please! My baby!"

"Severide, get over here now!" Casey ordered as he all but ran to the car, his firefighters following quickly after him as there was an urgency in his voice that was hard to miss. But, given the situation, that wasn't surprising.

From their quick glance overs as they made their way to the car, they could see that everyone else involved in the accident was fine. That they had all been able to get out of their cars, and there were no serious injuries as aside from the one car in danger, it appeared that the other vehicles had been involved in nothing more than a fender bender.

But with all the snow and ice on the ground, the woman's car hadn't been able to stop until she was nearly off the bridge, and Matt was sure they only had limited time to get her and her child out of there.

"Cruz, bring the rig over here, we need to secure this car!" Severide shouted as he followed after Casey, Joe hurrying back over to the truck, while everyone else continued towards the vehicle, Dawson and Shay staying back to look over everyone else just to make sure there were no injuries.

"Be careful, guys… No one get close unless I say." Casey spoke as he slowed his steps, his eyes moving over the scene in front of him as he knew they had to be mindful of where they stepped. With all the snow around them, he was sure at least part of that is what was still holding up this car, and he was afraid of what would happen if there was too much of a shift in the ground beneath them.

Because in the back of his mind he knew exactly what would happen, and it wouldn't be good.

"Capp, Tony, get the lines ready, we need to secure this car now. And get me the harness, I'm-"

"Get me one, too." Casey spoke up, Kelly lifting his head to look at his friend, almost with an unsure look on his face. But Matt nodded nonetheless, Severide pausing for a moment before he nodded back at him.

"Guys, get Casey hooked up." He ordered, his men nodding as they quickly went about their jobs, while 81 did what they could to help. Casey and Severide both got their harnesses on and were attached to 81, knowing they'd need it as they got closer to the vehicle just in case something went wrong. Though they both prayed it wouldn't.

"Help! Somebody please help!" The woman continued to scream, Matt grimacing as he watched Severide carefully move towards the vehicle, Kelly knowing as well as he did that he had to be mindful of the ice beneath them while he worked to get the car hooked up to the rig.

"Ma'am, we're here… We're here, okay." Casey called, his voice projecting through the wind and snow falling down around them as it mixed in with the sound of her pleas for help, and the baby screaming in the backseat. "We're gonna get you out, alright? We're working on securing your car right now, and then I'll be there to help you-"

"My baby, get my baby!" She yelled, before Matt heard her turn to look in the back seat, the movement making the car shift as Kelly did what he could to keep it steady.

"Hey! Hey, hey- Ma'am, don't move! Don't move, okay?" He yelled, the urgency in his voice causing her to stop, as Matt still stood probably five yards away from them. "We're gonna help you, but you can't move…"

"Okay, okay…" She breathed out, some of her adrenaline starting to wear off as it was slowly hitting her what exactly was happening. "Just please, help my baby… My Charlotte, please help her." She begged, Matt nodding as his eyes moved to the backseat, where he could see the top of the carseat.

The baby was still crying, but if anything that was a good sign as he took another slight step forward. "We're gonna get her, alright?"

"Get her first!" She yelled back, doing what she could to keep still as her hands gripped the steering wheel. "I don't care about me, just save her."

"We're gonna save you both." Casey spoke as calmly as he could, the firefighter's gaze moving back to Severide, before he looked past him to find Gabby standing back by the rig, her eyes focused on the scene in front of her. "I'm gonna get the baby out first, can you and Shay check her out?" He called, Dawson nodding as her glove-covered hand gripped her radio tightly.

"We're good, Casey!" Severide spoke as he finished securing the last line, Matt nodding before he looked back to Cruz, seeing the man behind the wheel of squad.

"Alright, Cruz pull them back… Slowly!" Casey ordered, as they knew the safest course of action for everyone involved was to get this woman and her baby back on solid ground, before getting them out of the car.

But before Cruz could even move, something shifted in the ice helping to hold up the car, the vehicle started to jostle as it slowly tipped over the edge.

"Cruz!" Casey yelled, but it was pointless as the car suddenly fell off the side of the bridge, screams being heard from not only inside the car, but from the bystanders around them as Joe did what he could to stop it.

But with the slick weather beneath his tires, the rig wasn't able to get a good enough grip as squad three started sliding towards the edge of the bridge just as the car fell over the side.

It was like it had all happened in slow motion, the first responders watching on in horror as the force of the falling car was trying to win out against the heavy rig.

"Cruz!"

"The tires, I can't get it stopped!"

"Cruz, get out of there!" Severide all but screamed, as they knew now they were preparing for the worst possible scenario. And the last thing any of them wanted was to lose a firefighter in this awful accident.

But after a second, by some miracle Joe managed to get the rig halted, the man having turned the tires enough to get them to stop sliding as the edge of the firetruck settled up against a mound of snow. Heavy breaths of relief could be heard from the first responders, knowing they'd just missed a near accident from happening, Cruz himself drawing in a few shaky breaths as he tried to stop the trembling in his hands.

"Cruz, you good?" Severide asked, the group still trying to gather their bearings.

"I'm fine.." He spoke after a moment, the firefighter shaking out all the nerves he was feeling as he knew he still had a job to do.

That they all had a job to do, because the car that was just hanging off the side of the bridge was now suspended in the air beneath them, with the woman and child still inside. And they still had to do everything they could to save them.

Casey was doing what he could to block out the woman's screams, the man shaking his head roughly before he glanced towards Kelly, seeing him looking out over the bridge trying to figure out what to do. Luckily, the lines holding the car seemed to be holding, as the vehicle was still connected to the rig. But they had no way to know how long that would last, especially in this weather.

"I've gotta go down there." Casey suddenly spoke up, Severide's head snapping towards him. "We've gotta get them out, but only one of us should go… Less weight on the rig." He continued to explain, the squad Lieutenant knowing he was right. But that didn't stop him from worrying about his friend. "I've got this, Kelly." He added on when he picked up on Severide's uncertainty, the man ultimately nodding before he called out to his firefighters.

"Alright guys, Casey's going down to get them, we need to get the wood supports underneath all these tires, just in case." Severide yelling, Matt meeting Gabby's eyes once more after she heard what Kelly had said.

And it was nearly impossible for Casey to miss the worry hiding in her eyes. But he simply nodded, before giving her an assuring smile. "I'm okay." He mouthed, Gabby drawing in a deep breath before she nodded back at him.

"Once we get them both out, and Casey's clear, we're gonna cut the line… There's no way we're getting that car back up here, so we're gonna get them out and then drop it." Severide continued his orders, everyone nodding as Herrmann made sure Casey was securely connected to the harness.

"Be careful, Lieutenant." He said, Matt nodding before he moved towards the edge of the bridge, knowing he needed to keep his mind as clear as he possibly could.

It took a few minutes, as he had to be careful about maneuvering around the busted railing, but soon enough Casey was being propelled down, everyone doing their jobs as seamlessly as they could, knowing they were holding the life of their truck Lieutenant in their hands as he worked to save this little family.

He got to the passenger side first, the screams of the woman and baby hard to stomach as he could only imagine how terrifying this was. But as he was suspended in the air, he was trying not to think about it. Or about the slab of concrete that was probably fifty feet below them, as he knew that if any of them fell right now, there was no surviving that.

Blowing out a heavy breath, Casey started working on getting the backdoor open, the movement causing the woman to finally realize someone was here to help them, as her head snapped back to look at him just as he got the door open.

"Hey, hey it's okay." He spoke, Matt hoping his words would soothe not only the little girl, but the scared woman in the front seat.

"Save her." She begged, tears rushing down her face as her seatbelt was doing everything it could to keep her up. "Please."

"I will… I've got her." He assured her, Matt reaching in to carefully get the baby out of her carseat.

He had to move slowly, considering gravity was working against them and both the baby and the mother were facing straight down to the ground. But thankfully, after a few seconds, he managed to get the baby free and in his arms, little Charlotte latching onto him as her wails filled the air.

"I've got her, I've got her." He spoke quickly, a relieved sob escaping the woman's lips as she was just glad her child was out of this car. "I'm gonna take Charlotte up there, and she's gonna get checked out… But I'll be right back down to get you, alright?" He promised, the woman straining her neck to look back at him, before she nodded. "...What's your name?" He asked, her eyes falling closed for a moment before she responded.

"Stacy."

"Okay, Stacy… I'm Matt. And I swear to you, you'll both be fine. Alright? I'm gonna take her up, and I'll be right back. I promise." He told her again, the words leaving his lips before he could stop them as Stacy nodded slowly.

"Thank you." She cried out, Casey nodding once more before he tugged on the line.

"Severide, bring me up!" He yelled, it taking only a few seconds before he and Charlotte were pulled back up to the bridge.

They were moving slowly, everyone up top knowing they had to be careful. But the entire time, Matt was focused on nothing but making sure he held onto this baby as securely as he could. She'd calmed down considerably since being in his arms, but he wasn't oblivious to the fact that the only thing keeping her safe right now was him.

Less than a minute later, Matt was brought up to solid ground, Severide and Herrmann grabbing him and pulling him up as quickly as they could, the firefighters all but dragging him away from the edge.

"Is she okay?" Severide asked as Casey cradled the baby to his chest, Gabby and Shay both hurrying over to him.

"She's good, she's fine… She just needs to be checked out." He spoke, Dawson carefully taking the baby from him and holding her to her body, Shay immediately wrapping a warming blanket around her as they were doing what they could to protect her from the harsh cold.

"We got her." Shay spoke, Matt nodding as his eyes moved over to Gabby, watching as she held onto the little girl with a secure grip. Though Dawson's attention was mostly on Matt, her worried gaze hard to miss as snow continued pelting them in the face.

"Are you okay?" She asked quickly, Casey drawing in a deep breath before he nodded.

"I'm fine, I'm good… but I've gotta go back down there and get Stacy." He spoke, Gabby giving him an understanding look before they went their separate ways once more, Dawson pushing aside her own feelings as she knew they both had jobs to do.

While Shay and Dawson took care of Charlotte, Casey was propelled back down once more, the intense cold making it a little hard for him to move like he wanted. But he was doing his best to get back down to the car, as he couldn't help but notice how much quieter it was now. There was no more screaming, or crying, it was just silent. And that worried him.

"Stacy?" He asked once he got close enough. "You alright in there?"

"I'm okay, is Charlotte alright?" She asked almost immediately, just as Casey got to her door.

"She's fine, she's doing well… Our paramedics are looking after her, she's okay." He kept repeating over and over, as Matt couldn't help but admire how even when she was in this situation, her one and only thought was the safety of her daughter. "But now this is about you… All of this, it's gonna be scary, but I'm gonna get you out of here, alright?" He assured her, Stacy drawing in a deep breath before she nodded, Matt slowly beginning to open her door.

"I just need you to trust me… And we'll get you back up to your daughter, and everything will be okay." He continued, doing what he could to keep her calm as he grabbed the second rope hanging off of him. "Now, we have to do this carefully, but we're gonna get this belt around you and you'll come out here with me… Then they'll pull us up." He explained to her as best he could, sensing how nervous she was about what was going to happen.

And he couldn't blame her, as this was no easy thing. But they both knew she had no other choice, Stacy breathing in slowly before she gave him a nod, Matt offering her a small smile before he reached into the car.

"Alright, we're just gonna take this one step at a time, but I've got you. Just focus on me." He said, earning another nod from her before they began to get her out of the car.

They had to move slowly, and stop a few times as Stacy was starting to freak out. But every time he managed to calm her down, before they finally got the belt around her, and got her out of the car with Matt.

"You good?" He asked her, Stacy shaking her head as her eyes were clenched shut.

"No, but I just want to get out of here."

"Yeah, I understand." He told her, before reaching up for his radio. "Severide, we're ready."

"Got it, Case." He replied back, things going quiet for a moment before they were carefully pulled back up to the bridge.

With every move they made, Matt could tell Stacy was becoming more and more unsettled by what was happening, but every time he just tried to keep her calm. And remind her that her daughter was up there waiting for her. That she just needed to trust him, and everything would be fine.

Which thankfully, it was, as soon enough they got back to solid ground, the firefighters pulling both Casey and Stacy up and getting them as far away from the edge of the bridge as they could, before starting to unhook them.

"Cruz, cut the line." Severide called, the man nodding before he moved to cut what was holding the car to the rig, while the main focus shifted to making sure Stacy was alright.

She was shaking, badly, but they could almost feel how relieved she was, as she was spewing thank yous to anyone who was next to her, her mind clearly racing as she was trying to come to terms with what happened.

"Stacy!" They heard a man yell, everyone looking over towards the ambulance to see an unnamed man standing there next to Shay, holding Charlotte in his arms before he started rushing towards her.

"Michael…" She breathed out, tears clouding her vision before a heavy sob left her throat, Stacy all but running his way, while Michael hurried towards her as well before the two of them connected in a tight hug, the man holding onto both girls as if they were his entire world.

And Casey could only assume they were.

"That's her husband." Severide spoke as he finished unhooking Casey's harness, Matt nodding softly. "I guess Stacy called him after the accident first happened, he nearly killed himself trying to get here… Thank God they're all okay." He breathed out, patting Casey's shoulder as the truck Lieutenant nodded.

"Yeah, thank God." He agreed, his eyes moving away from the family when he noticed someone walking towards him, Casey watching as Gabby headed his way. And without a word, she didn't stop until she had her arms around him, Matt relaxing instantly as he held onto her, the two taking this moment for themselves now that they knew everyone was alright.

He could tell he'd worried her, that she probably did love him being the one to go down there and do this, but he was okay. He knew she just needed a minute with him to believe that, Casey sighing softly before tightening his grip, his hand coming up to cradle the back of her head as she rested against his neck.

And that's exactly how they stayed for the next few minutes, neither of them needing to say anything as they stood there with each other, both of them taking a second to decompress after how terrifying of a call it had been.

But thankfully, everyone made it out okay. And that was the best they could hope for.

"Yeah, Casey definitely saved the day… The only reason that woman and her child are still alive is because of him."

Shay's voice filled Matt and Gabby's living room, as the entire group of their friends and family sat around with their drinks and desserts, Casey immediately shaking his head from his spot next to Gabby.

"I don't know about all that." He replied, Gabby looking towards him with a soft grin, as Shay waved her hand in the air.

"Please, there were about three or four times I thought things were gonna end terribly… But that mom and her baby, they're both okay, thank God. And Matt was like a man on a mission, trying to help them." Shay continued on before taking another sip of her wine, Camila and Ramon both glancing towards him, Matt looking at them before moving his head to find his mother's gaze as well.

"It really wasn't that big of a deal, at least on my end… They needed help, and we were able to help them. All of us." He continued on, Camila not missing the proud smile that formed over her daughter's face while she looked at her boyfriend.

"He's just being modest." Severide chimed in, Casey shaking his head before taking a quick drink of his beer. "Though if you keep doing stuff like that, they might end up promoting you Casey." He jabbed, Matt huffing out a breath before shaking his head, Kelly's words earning a few laughs from around the room.

"Oh, God, I don't know if I can picture Casey being promoted." Shay teased, Severide grinning in amusement.

"I could." Gabby chimed in, Matt looking her way with raised eyebrows, the woman shrugging softly before she continued. "I could picture it, you being a Captain… You'd be great at it." She encouraged, his face softening from her genuine words as he reached out to give her leg a gentle squeeze.

"You'd be amazing at it, honey." Nancy chimed in, Camila and Ramon both nodding in agreement.

"You certainly would, son." Ramon added on, Matt ducking his head as his cheeks tinted pink, before he replied.

"Yeah, I think we're all getting a little ahead of ourselves, and I appreciate that… Really, I do. But I'm happy with how things are right now." He told them as he wrapped his arm around Gabby's shoulders. "And the most important thing is that Stacy and her daughter were okay."

"Is that the woman from today?" Camila asked, Matt nodding as he glanced her way.

"Mhmm, Stacy and her daughter, Charlotte… They're both alright. They maybe will have a few cuts and bruises, but that's it."

"Yeah, they were both fine." Shay said, earning nods from the parents.

"Well, it sounds like you all have had quite a few intense calls lately." Camila continued on, Gabby finding her mother's eyes. "Everything with that woman today, and then that woman Antonio's been helping… Lydia, I think." She said, Gabby nodding in response.

"Yeah, it's been a lot." She breathed out.

"...How is she doing, by the way? Lydia?" Camila pressed. Even though Dawson had seen her parents a few times over the past week, Lydia hadn't really come up again since Gabby went to see Bryan, as everyone was more focused on making sure the youngest Dawson was alright.

"She's doing well, as far as I know." Gabby replied before glancing towards her brother, Antonio nodding before immediately picking up the conversation.

"Yeah, she's good… I talked to her the day before yesterday, I think. She sounded alright, said she's been settling in well with her parents, that she's staying with them for a while. And that she's looking for a job… Everything's good."

"That's great to hear." Ramon replied, Camila giving an agreeing look. "I'm so glad you all were able to help her."

"Me too." Gabby replied, seeing Matt down what was left of his drink before he started to push himself up from the couch.

"I'm gonna get another beer, does anyone need anything?" He asked the group as he looked around, Matt being met by a few head shakes before Gabby spoke up.

"Can you get me another piece of cake?" She asked, Matt nodding as he reached down to grab her plate, Gabby shooting him a thankful smile.

"I'll go with you, I'm gonna get another drink." Antonio said, Casey nodding once more as the two men started towards the kitchen. But they didn't get very far before Shay spoke up.

"Damn Dawson, you've had quite the appetite lately…" She said, Matt glancing back to her as he found Shay watching Gabby with narrowed eyes. Her words weren't judgmental, but they were certainly pointed, the blonde cocking her head to the side as she focused on Dawson. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were pregnant."

Gabby's eyes widened the second those words left her lips, Matt wearing a similar expression as Camila started choking on her drink, Shay's statement catching them all off guard as she wore a soft smile on her face.

"Good Lord." Gabby breathed out once she gathered herself, everyone in the room now staring at her as Matt took a few steps back towards the couch.

"Is that why you invited us all over here?" Shay continued on, Camila looking towards her daughter with what Gabby could only describe as an almost hopeful look in her eye. "Did Casey finally do his job right and knock you up?" She asked with a bright smile as she continued teasing her friend, the three parents in the room staring at Dawson as Severide shook his head.

"Oh my God, Shay." He muttered.

"Mija, are you…?" Camila asked, Gabby immediately shaking her head.

"No, no, I'm not pregnant." She replied quickly, Ramon releasing a somewhat relieved sigh, while Camila and Nancy both nodded. "No, I'm not- No." She added on sternly, before shooting Shay a glare. "You gotta stop doing stuff like that." She bit out, feeling Matt come up behind her as Shay laughed softly.

"Okay, sorry, but you can't blame me for asking." She said lightly, Gabby rolling her eyes just as Matt leaned down behind her, his mouth close to her ear as everyone watched them.

"...You sure there's nothing you need to tell me?" He asked, only somewhat joking as Gabby scoffed lightly.

"Yes, I'm sure… Now go get my cake." She told him, Matt laughing lightly before he pressed a soft kiss to her cheek, him and Antonio both heading for the kitchen while Gabby was chastising Shay, the sight an amusing one for everyone left in the living room as the two men got new drinks.

"Well, Shay sure does know how to make things interesting." Antonio breathed out, Matt releasing a light chuckle before he nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, she does." He spoke, Antonio shooting him a grin as Casey handed him a new beer. "Maybe a little too interesting." He added on.

"Yeah, I think she about gave my Dad a heart attack." Antonio said softly, Matt shaking his head lightly. "I mean, they love you, but still…"

"I get it… But, as far as I know, there are no plans for any little Casey's running around anytime soon." He told him, Antonio nodding understandingly. "With everything going on, or that was going on, I guess. We're just taking… all of that kind of slow."

"That's smart." The older brother agreed, Casey giving him a smile before he began to get another piece of cake for Gabby. "Which, uh, speaking of what's been going on… How are you two doing?" He questioned, prompting Matt to look up at him for a moment. "I mean, I know Gabby keeps saying she's fine, and she seems to be alright, but…"

"She is." Casey answered without hesitation, before Antonio drew in a deep breath. "We are… But she's good. Better than I expected, if I'm being honest." He explained as Antonio took a step closer to him. "She's handling all of it really well. And at first, it was a little hard to trust that, but it's like you've told me in the past… When she's okay, we just have to believe that. And let her be okay." He said, earning another nod from the man next to him. "And I've come to realize that if she's able to let all this go, and move past it, we have to be able to, too."

"Well, it's good to know that you've been listening to me." He replied lightheartedly, Casey shaking his head in amusement before Antonio continued. "But I'm glad she's okay… I know I was hesitant at first, of her doing that and going to see him, but it seems to be what she needed."

"It was. It was exactly what she needed." Casey echoed. "And now we're just moving on with everything…"

"Good." He responded, just as Matt put the lid back over the cake. "And, uh- just so you know, I haven't heard anything…" He continued on, his quiet words confusing Casey for a moment as the two men locked gazes. "From the prison, or Walker… He hasn't asked for her."

"Were you expecting him to?" Matt asked, his palms pressing into the countertop as he felt his muscles slowly begin to tighten.

"No I wasn't… But I also wasn't sure if he'd reach out again, because of how he was in the past." He explained, Casey giving him a nod. "And I really didn't think he'd try, after everything Gabby said to him. But I just wanted you to know, anyway."

"I appreciate that." Casey said, the two sharing a small smile before Matt looked back out to the group. "I… I wish it didn't come to what it did, but at least Walker finally got the message." He added on, Antonio watching him for a moment as he could see the slight twinge of anger he was still holding onto. Though the brother couldn't blame him, as he still felt the same way when it came to Bryan Walker.

But neither of them commented on it, Matt releasing a soft breath before he pushed himself away from the counter. "I better get this to Gabby." He spoke, Antonio nodding as he grabbed both their beers before they headed back to the group, the feeling in the air shifting once they got back over to everyone, as all they wanted to do was spend the rest of tonight having a great time with their friends and family.

And that's exactly what they did.

And there we have another one. As you all can see, Dawsey are getting back into their lives pretty well. Everything is going rather smoothly for them, at least where Gabby's past is concerned. Which I'm sure a lot of you are happy about, because I am too.

As always, thank you guys for reading this chapter, I hope you liked it. If you have a minute, I'd appreciate hearing your thoughts on everything.

I hope you all have a great rest of your week, and I'll see you next time!