Chief Casey Season 1: Chicago's Newest Chief (Dawsey)

Chapter 56

Jay's POV: As we arrived at the park together, I smiled at Lucky because she knew it was play time. "Hey Matt, how about you ask Gabby and see if you can play with me and Lucky? Haven't gotten much guy time lately and would like some." Matt then looked at Gabby who was currently looking at their kids. "Matt, I have Erin to help me." Erin then looked up and nodded. "Yeah. Anyways, we are going to gossip probably." Matt nodded and agreed as he walked over to Gabby. "I am just over there if you or the kids need anything." Gabby nodded and smiled when he said that before stepping close to him. Kissing him softly, she smiled as he pulled away.

"You are such a tease." Matt laughed and smiled. "Shut up, you are just as much a tease whenever you come to the firehouse." He then walked away and smiled when he came to join me. "Sorry, still in the playful time. Hormones." I laughed and understood. "Oh, love that time." Matt then slapped my arm. "Not that type of hormone action. Dude, we have 3 kids. And my mother-in-law lives with us to help raise those 3 kids of ours." I then laughed and shook my head. "Oh shut up man. Your father-in-law basically lives with you. Don't you dare tell me that he isn't brought up a lot at home when you guys talk. Including when you are in bed."

I sighed when he said that. "Not sure which is worse. Our daughter or Hank. God, sometimes I am in the mood and completely ready to give her pleasure...then we are either disturbed by Olivia or she brings up our boss/her dad. I am ticked sometimes. I mean c'mon babe, I am already dealing with him all day everyday! Sometimes I just want to come home, get undressed and get close to my wife in bed." Matt laughed when I said that. "I am basically the exact opposite. When I get home from work, I want to get in bed and hold Gabby and the kids close."

I nodded and agreed with him. "By the way, how is the little guy? I mean, your youngest of course. Oh and do you have anybody to give your baby clothes to?" Matt shook his head. "For Ella, yes. Her clothes are going to Antonio. But, our clothes from Wally are available. Why, do you guys know what you guys are having yet?" I shook my head. "We find out at the next appointment. I swear, that is going to be fun. I never went to the gender one before. Erin already knew what she was having when she came back to Chicago." Matt nodded and smiled.

"Honestly, that was probably the best part of Gabby being pregnant again. I got to do it with her this time. We made all the memories together. I was there at every appointment, every craving, everything. I almost missed the birth though." I then turned to look at him. "What do you mean?" Matt sighed. "I was leaving to come back to Chicago for Boden's funeral the day Gabby's water broke." I looked at him and was shocked. "You're kidding me?" That's when I saw that Lucky was sitting at my feet waiting for me to throw the ball. "Here girl, let's get you running." 

I smiled when she ran when I heard Matt speak to me again. "Listen, something else I wanted to talk to you about. How's Will dealing with everything?" I sighed when he asked me. "They're figuring things out. He told me that he's considering going to Seattle with her." I nodded and agreed. "What do you think about that?" I looked at him and nodded. "I am not going to stop him. I mean, I would've gone to New York with Erin had I known. I am just glad she is back in Chicago. But, I will definitely follow her anywhere if required. She's my wife and I love her."

Lucky then came back again and I went to throw it right away considering I knew it's what she wanted. "I feel the same way. Having gone to Puerto Rico...the experience just changed my life. Gave me a new perspective on life and it allowed me to appreciate stuff here. Man, they have it rough there." I then turned to look at him. "They seemed to have it pretty good when we were there." Matt sighed when I said that. "I am not talking about San Juan. I went up into the rural areas. Compared to San Juan...it's like southside Chicago. Tents as homes and stuff. Some places still don't have clean running water. It was just depressing. Having kids was so hard because I could look at the faces of some of those kids and could see Matteo in their faces."

I went to rub his back and sighed. "You guys going to head back someday?" Matt shook his head. "No, I have to stay now. I took over the firehouse last time I checked. Anyways, Hermann is going to retire in a few years. So that's why they asked me. They didn't want a chief there for such a short stint before having to bring a new one in. I am just glad that I am going to be able to keep Gabby at the same house as me. That's not common for CFD practice. It's complicated and has to do with her mental health." I nodded and agreed with him.

"Speaking of mental health issues, I've been meaning to ask. How was it on September 11, 2021? How were you?" I sighed when he said that. "I was a wreck. I took the day off and I was glad. Honestly, I went to the cabin and it was the best decision I ever made. I had PTSD all day and it was horrible. You remember the event you were subject to? You know, when you took Erin and Olivia in the back of the ambulance?" Matt nodded and remembered the event.

I sighed and looked at him. "That event was easy compared to 9/11. It was like I was relieving the day. I remember the times so clearly. And then September 18th. That was the day where the war authorization law passed. It let us go to war. It was just hard to go through. I mean, 20 years and thousands of lives killed." Matt nodded and went to rub my back. "Listen, just keep going to your therapist and you will be okay." I smiled and agreed with him when I went to throw the ball for Lucky again. "What about you? How have you guys been since that day?"

Matt sighed when I asked him that question. "It's been hard being in Chicago. Knowing that it could even happen here. Having a young daughter...I can picture how scared you could feel. Sure, I have 2 sons but...it's just different when you have a daughter. Do you get it? It's like you want to protect them more." I sighed. "Well, I haven't had a son yet but...I somewhat understand." Matt laughed and smiled at me. "Dude, it's pretty much the same as having a girl. Just less tantrums." I laughed when he said that and nodded.

That's when I started to hear Erin yell to me. "Jay, can you please come here and help me grab my water? It fell under the bench. You know I can't bend down when I am wearing a skirt like this." I nodded and agreed. "Here Matt, keep playing with her. I'll be right back." Matt nodded and agreed as he grabbed the ball. Meanwhile, I walked over to Erin so that I could get her water bottle for her.