CARA'S FUNERAL
Gabriella approached Bode slowly, her eyes carrying a sense of understanding that seemed to warm the dreary day. The thick grey clouds accentuated the earnestness in Bode's eyes as she walked toward him.
"I always thought you'd be a great girl dad," Gabriella said, her voice infused with genuine affection as she looked up at him with a warm smile.
Bode's surprise was evident, a subtle raise of his eyebrows and a slight tilt of his head betraying his emotions. "You know?" he asked, his voice tinged with a mix of curiosity and astonishment.
Gabriella nodded sympathetically, her eyes reflecting a depth of understanding that went beyond mere words. "All of it?" Bode pressed softly, a hint of vulnerability colouring his tone.
"That Gen was the other girl you told me about?" Gabriella paused, her gaze meeting Bode's as she confirmed his question with a nod. "Yeah."
Bode took a moment to process her revelation, his expression shifting from surprise to contemplation. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a glimmer of hope shining in his eyes. "I might be her father, but ever since I found out, I've felt like I am. Like I've got something to push for," he explained, his voice filled with a quiet determination and a newfound sense of purpose. "It just feels-."
"Right? True?" Gabriella interjected gently, her words completing his sentence with a profound understanding of his feelings.
Bode nodded in agreement, a sense of clarity dawning on him as he absorbed Gabriella's insight. "I hope it is," she said with a soft smile, as his eyes met hers with a mixture of gratitude and anticipation. "She'd be very lucky to have you as a father," Gabriella added, her own smile mirroring his as she acknowledged the depth of his commitment.
Bode's gaze shifted slightly, gesturing toward Diego who had been watching from afar. "You're lucky too," he remarked, his voice filled appreciation. "You found the right guy," he said with a weak smile. "He deserves you."
Gabriella searched Bode's eyes carefully, unsure if Bode actually believed what he was saying.
Bode, noticing her hesitation, dropped his eyes to the ground and inhaled shakily. "Listen, what I said when I came to in the triage tent–"
"Was true," Gabriella interjected firmly. "I love you too, Bode," she said genuinely.
Bode's heart stopped. His eyes widened in hopeful surprise until she continued. "We're family. We always will be."
He tried everything he could to keep his crushed hopes from showing on his face.
"And, right now we could use all the love we can get," Gabriella finished softly, taking his hand hers briefly. Bode could feel Diego's possessive gaze boring into him, so he gave Gabriella a weak smile, turned and started walking toward the Corrections Officer to be cuffed.
THE NIGHT OF THE FIREMEN'S BALL
The night of the Firemen's Ball was alive with anticipation as Bode and Cole unloaded the last of the delivery truck outside the dazzling venue. Cole, ever the instigator, couldn't resist teasing Bode about Gabriella's presence. "Gabriella is going to be here tonight," he teased with a playful glint in his eye. "She's not married yet, Bro."
Bode's response was tinged with a hint of resignation. "It doesn't matter. She said we're family. She probably thinks of me like a brother," he explained, his voice carrying a note of hopelessness. "The best thing I can do for her is keep my distance."
Cole shook his head skeptically. "I don't know, man. I've seen how you two look at one another. Siblings don't look at each other like that."
Their conversation was interrupted by Eve, resplendent in her full Captain's uniform, her presence commanding attention. "Let's pick up the pace, guys. Guests will be arriving soon. Remember, we're trying to change minds about how responsible and solid the team at Three Rock is tonight," she reminded them with authority.
"Yes, Cap," Bode and Cole chorused in unison, snapping back to the task at hand.
As the evening progressed, Bode found himself stationed behind the food service table, stealing glances at the entrance whenever he could. When Gabriella finally arrived with Diego, she took his breath away in her full-length black satin gown, her elegance undeniable.
Caught in a moment of mesmerizing admiration, Bode couldn't take his eyes off of Gabriella, and Diego couldn't take his eyes off Bode.
Bode's heart skipped a beat when he noticed Gabriella's expression shift from joy to concern as a woman in a striking red gown approached her. Every fibre of his being urged him to rush to her side, to make sure that she was okay, but he knew that it wasn't his place anymore.
Cole, standing beside Bode, couldn't resist poking fun at his friend's entranced state. "Hey, don't forget to blink, man," he teased with a playful grin.
"Shut up," Bode retorted with a dismissive eye roll, though his attention remained fixated on Gabriella.
Cole's mischievous smile widened. "Nah, I get it. It might be the last time that you can tell her how you feel before she gets married," he suggested, his tone laced with a hint of mischief.
"Stop," Bode replied softly, his gaze lingering on Gabriella with a mixture of longing and acceptance. "It doesn't matter how I feel. She's happy. That door is closed," he added with a sense of finality. "Tonight is about Three Rock."
"Keep telling yourself that," Cole remarked, shaking his head knowingly, understanding the complexity of emotions that Bode was grappling with as the night unfolded.
Two hours later, Gabriella stood before the mirror in the hallway outside of the restrooms, frustration etched on her features as she muttered colourful expletives under her breath. The delicate clasp of her necklace had managed to entangle itself with the intricate design of the back of her dress, leaving her in a predicament that seemed impossible to solve alone.
It was then that Bode, passing by on his way back from the kitchen, caught sight of her distress. "You okay?" he questioned, his voice a soothing contrast to the tension in the air.
"I think my necklace is caught on my dress, but I can't see it and I can't reach it," she explained in a burst of frustration, her hands gesturing helplessly towards the back of her gown.
"Let me help?" Bode offered softly, his steps deliberate as he approached her from behind, their eyes meeting in the reflection of the mirror.
She nodded appreciatively, grateful for his willingness to assist.
Bode's gentle touch brushed against the side of her throat as he carefully swept her long, dark locks across her back, tucking them over her right shoulder to gain a clear view of the problem. The subtle contact made her catch her breath, her eyes remaining locked on his in the mirror's reflection, a silent exchange of electricity between them.
With focused attention, Bode examined the entanglement. The delicate chain of her necklace had somehow snared itself in the top of the zipper of her gown.
"You were right, but it should be an easy fix," Bode reassured her, taking a deep breath before continuing. "I'll need to unzip the top couple of inches of your dress to untangle it. Is that okay? Do you want me to get Diego?"
"No, it's fine. Thanks for your help," Gabriella replied, her trust evident in her tone as she allowed Bode to proceed.
Carefully, Bode began to unzip the dress, his knuckle tracing a path along the soft olive skin of her spine as he worked to free the trapped chain. He couldn't help but notice the hitch in Gabriella's breath, a subtle reaction to his touch.
"Okay, I think I've got it," Bode announced as he successfully untangled the chain from the zipper, a sense of accomplishment in his voice.
Gabriella pulled the necklace forward, confirming with relief that it was now free of its entanglement. "Yes, thank you. I thought I was going to choke for a minute there," she admitted with a grateful smile.
Bode fought to hold his hand steady as he zipped the dress back up, the feel of her skin and their proximity suddenly drawing attention to the intimacy of the moment. The scent of her perfume lingered in the air, a subtle reminder of their closeness as they stood together in the hallway.
"You look so beautiful tonight," he said swallowing hard to hold himself together, meeting her eyes in the mirror. For a flash of a second, it looked like her eyes had the same look of wild desire as his own, but it was gone as quickly as it came.
"Thank you," Gabriella replied awkwardly, a hint of bashfulness colouring her cheeks as she shifted the conversation. "I hope the event is a success for Three Rock."
"Yeah, me too," Bode agreed, though his thoughts lingered on their brief but intimate encounter. Sensing her unease, he gently changed the subject. "Who is the lady in the red dress?"
"My mom. Diego invited her. I think he was trying to surprise me," she explained with a sigh, a hint of frustration in her voice. "She's so unpredictable and loves to be the centre of attention. I just don't trust her at things like this," Gabriella confessed, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Bode turned her to face him, a comforting gesture as he wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "I'm sorry. That's tough," he offered softly.
Just then, Sharon appeared at the end of the hallway in her glistening gold dress. "You two okay over there?" she asked with a hint of warning in her tone.
Gabriella took a step back from Bode. "You bet, Sharon. Bode was just doing me a favour. I should get back to Diego," she said giving Bode a sad smile as she turned and started walking down the hallway towards Sharon and back to the party.
"Thanks again, Bode," she said looking back at him over her shoulder.
Bode bit his lower lip, as he nodded gently.