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

Chapter 57

Matt's POV: While Jay was gone helping Erin, I smiled as I played with Lucky a bit. I just knew that I couldn't touch her right now considering she was working. Or was she? I couldn't tell. She wasn't wearing her vest but then again...neither did Tuesday. God, this is going to be complicated. I mean Boden never required Darren to make her wear a service vest. Will I have to make her wear a service vest. Well, Darren is more like her support person. God, how does that work. I then decided to grab my phone and went to send a text to Darren. 'Hey Ritter, I just remembered....I want to know how Tuesday works again. I get I was your captain but, I forgot if she's your service dog or are you her support. I know it was something like that. Next shift...can we talk about it again?'

I then went to put my phone in my pocket again but I got a quick text back. 'Sure thing Chief. And I'm her support person. She has separation anxiety. We'll talk about it whenever you want. How are you doing anyways? I've been meaning to ask. I know you were close with Boden.' I then sighed and went to text him back. 'It's still hard. Heck, just being Chief is hard. For now, when we are in social...can you just call me Casey? I'm not ready to hear Chief too much yet.' I then started to tear up a bit thinking about the fact that I am not going by the title he held for decades. And how he'll never be able to meet my younger 2 kids. 

That's when Jay came over to me. "Hey, Lucky is waiting." I then looked down at her and sighed. "Sorry girl." I then went to wipe my eyes and looked at her. Jay then saw me cry and just went to rub my back. "Hey, you okay?" I sighed and shook my head. "It's still hard. I am still grieving Boden. Heck, I was just texting someone. They are Tuesday's owner. Forget how it works. I thought she was a service dog...but he's her service person in a way. She has separation anxiety. Complicated." Jay nodded and agreed. "Yeah, you want to talk?"

I nodded and looked at him before just going to lean against the tree I was standing next to. "Was it hard loosing your dad? I mean...he had a heart attack right?" Jay then sighed and nodded. "Yeah, he did." I sighed and looked at him. "So did Boden. It's hard for me because our relationship was so much more than just a captain-chief. It's more like what Erin has with Hank. I saw him as a father figure. Heck, we had Matteo calling him grandpa Boden. And just knowing he'll never meet Wally is heartbreaking. The man who's my son's namesake will never meet him. That's just tragic and something I never wanted."

Jay nodded and agreed. That's when Gabby looked at me. She could tell something was bothering me and that I was crying. She then got up and looked at Erin before walking over to us. "Hey, you okay?" I sighed and nodded as I went to reach out for her. Walking up to me, Gabby then wrapped her arms around me and just let me hold her. Kissing her forehead, I sighed and just held her close. "I was just texting Ritter. I've been meaning to ask about Tuesday and how it worked. He asked me how I was considering I was close to Boden and it just...it's hard."

Gabby nodded and agreed as she put her hand on my cheek. She then leaned up to kiss me softly as we held each other close. "Listen, later...we can put the kids down for a nap and we can hold each other in bed. Let me in Matt and let me be here for you okay? Please..." I nodded and agreed as I went to wrap my arms around her. "Listen, you are going to want to get back to the kids. I promise, when we are home...we will talk about this." Gabby nodded and smiled when I said that. She then walked away to go be with Matteo.

I then went to take a few deep breaths so that I could relax again.