Dawsey: Starting a Family Part 2

Chapter 261

Matt's POV: After finishing up in the shower and getting dressed, I smiled as I came out of the washroom wearing one of my old Captain's outfits. I decided to keep wearing this stuff because I didn't want to have to flash the fact that I was chief now. I already spoke to HQ and they said that was fine. That's when I got a call from one my Lieutenants from 3rd Shift...Hannah Acton. "Lieutenant Acton, how are you this morning?" Acton then replied. "Morning Chief, today's the day where we have all 3 shifts coming in right?" I sighed and agreed. "Yes, pack for 72 hours."

Acton was confused when I said that. "Why exactly?" I sighed and went to sit down on my bed. "I want to see if I need to transfer anybody to a different shift. I want to make sure everybody works well together. I haven't ever seen you guys work and I want you guys to know that I have your backs. I am your chief too...even though I know the people from 1st shift the best. That's why they will be in charge if that's okay? You can command your crew." She agreed. "Of course chief, we need to respect your wishes since this is your firehouse now. By the way, Boden..."

I understood. "Yes, I know he chose me before you even met me but..." She just interrupted me. "Chief Boden would be proud that you took over. I am ready to serve under you in whatever role you choose and whatever shift you decide to put my on if you need to transfer me. I just wanted to let you know that you can count on me to be a team player." I agreed and smiled. "We will talk later okay? Just please know that we will have 3 of each vehicle today. We all go to the fires so that I can try and see how you all work together. And we can put them all out much faster."

She agreed when I said that. "Of course Chief. See you on shift." I nodded and agreed before going to hang up. Looking at Gabby when she came out, I smiled. "You look hot." Gabby smiled when I said that before walking over to me. Leaning over me, she went to kiss me softly. "You are not getting any action in that firehouse bed. By the way, we are going to have to eat there. I want to get set up before everybody gets there." I nodded and agreed. "I already packed up my laptop. Now, can you drive today? I need to look over the rosters." Gabby then looked at her stomach.

I then realized that and laughed. "Right, you can't drive." Gabby nodded and smiled when I said that. "Someday, I will be able to drive again. Also, don't be scared to ask for my help. And just know that I am going to be down there. You are not trapping me upstairs." I nodded and agreed with her. "I wouldn't expect anything less. However, you can't kiss me whenever you want." Gabby laughed when I said that. "Sure, keep thinking that." I then went to kiss her softly and smiled at her when I heard a knock at the door downstairs. "I'll go get it." Gabby nodded.

"Can you take our bags downstairs?" I nodded and smiled before going to grab them. "Can you take care of Louie? I am not sure who it is. If it's one of my Lieutenants though...I am going to let them in. Do you trust them?" Gabby nodded when I said that. "Of course. Remember to grab your laptop from your office." I agreed and nodded. "We are going to do a staff meeting I think. Not sure yet but, all I know is that we are going to have a long 72 hours." Gabby laughed and smiled when I said that. "Enough flirting Chief, go see who's at the door."

I laughed when she said that and smiled as I carried my bags downstairs so that I could go see who was disturbing us at the door this morning. I already knew it was probably somebody from Firehouse 51, that's the only people I know that would be up this early anyways. Coming downstairs, I saw Louie walking back to his room and smiled at him. "Daddy, work today?" I nodded and smiled. "How about you go upstairs and see mommy? You are going to come into work with me." He agreed and nodded before going to run upstairs.

Quickly walking into my office, I went to grab my laptop (which was already packed from last night) and put it over my shoulder. Once I did that, I continued my trip downstairs with all of my things over my shoulders. And once I finally got to the ground floor, I went to set my bag and laptop down on the ground so that I could open the door. Opening it, I saw it was Jake Cordova, aka my 3rd Shift Truck Lieutenant. "Cordova, how are you this morning?" He then smiled. "Do you mind if we talk? I am just confused on how this is going to work today?"

I nodded and smiled. "Honestly, I would love to catch up. I think it's overdue. You can meet my son too. He and Gabby are going to be coming in today." Cordova agreed and smiled when I said that. "Mask on or off?" I then smiled. "You can take it off. But listen, I have to make breakfast for Gabby and Louie. So, just take off your shoes and join me in the kitchen." Cordova nodded and agreed, doing as he was told. Walking in with us, he smiled. "I was just going to tell you ahead of time that my wife is expecting our first child." I then looked at him. "Wife?"

He nodded and smiled, showing me his wedding band. "Melanie...3 months pregnant." That's when Gabby came downstairs. "Congratulations Jake. We are expecting twins in less than 5 months now." Jake then turned to look at her and smiled. "Wow, that's amazing." She nodded and smiled. "Matt, can we agree that we can hug the firehouse? I mean, we trust them right?" I nodded and smiled. "Go ahead." Jake then walked over and went to hug her. "Congratulations to you both. By the way, what do you think of Chief Casey?" Gabby smiled when she said that.

"I love it." Walking over to me, Gabby went to rub my back and kissed me softly. "Listen, I am going to go sit in the living room with Louie. "By the way, thought we had to eat at the firehouse." I sighed when she said that. "We're earlier than I expected. Now, I thought you were going to take care of Louie." Gabby then remembered that. "Right, he up in his room?" I nodded and looked at her. "Take a breath, relax and just go help him. Egg sandwiches okay?" Gabby nodded when I said that and smiled. "Get him some cheerios okay?" I nodded and agreed.

That's when Cordova looked at me. "Where are the Cheerios? I can help out." I nodded and agreed before pointing to the cupboard. "So, when did you become a Lieutenant. I didn't even know you were at our house until I got the roster." Jake laughed as he went to grab the cheerios as well as the milk in the fridge. "I became one maybe 2 years ago. I called Boden and said I liked the house, he said he needed one on 3rd shift and I agreed to join Truck 81." I nodded when he said that. "By the way, we have 3 trucks there for 3 days...the entire firehouse works together."

Jake agreed when I said that. "Melanie already knows that I am gone for the next 3 days. How are we doing it anyways? Do we get to rest every once and a while?" I nodded when he asked me that. "Yeah. The reason we are doing this is so that I can see everybody working together. I am going to change up who works together every once and a while. I want to see who works good together. Would you be okay switching shifts?" Jake laughed. "I can't, I'm the Lieutenant." I nodded and agreed. "Right, a hard time in the house right now. We lost a triplet recently."

Jake then looked at me when I said that. "Oh god, I am so sorry Casey. Wait, is it Casey or Chief?" I then bit my lip. "I think I like Casey. I am not ready for Chief formality...it's still weird." He nodded and agreed. "Honestly, it's weird knowing you are Chief too. My guys are still grieving a bit." I nodded when he said that. "Of course, I completely understand. I just want to see them all work. Please note that we are going to do drills. And like I said, I might try and switch people shifts. Maybe not my shift but...we'll see. There's also another reason for this though."

Jake was confused when I said that. "Do you mind me asking what this reason is?" I then sighed and looked at him. "I want to know everybody. I want to know the names and faces of people who are under my leadership. I might try and do shifts will all of you someday. I want to be a chief who works with all of the shifts. That way, I don't have to worry about having to work just with my shift." Jake nodded when I said that. "Honestly, it wasn't that often that Boden worked with us. He just let our truck leaders do it." I nodded when he said that. "Not me."

Jake then looked at me. "Do you mind me asking why?" I shook my head. "No, I don't mind saying. It's just...as the leader of Firehouse 51, I feel responsible for all of your lives. I don't just want to be responsible for the lives of my shift. You all report to me so...it's unfair for me to just work with my shift. So, I am going to see what I can do to try and go in more often. But listen, I need to make breakfast for Gabby. How about you just relax? Either that or you can go to the house. I can give you the keys and you can go turn on all the lights and stuff. By the way, staff meeting first thing. I am putting new rules in for the pandemic." He nodded and agreed.

"Of course chief. See you at the house." He then got up and went to shake my hand. "And congratulations on the promotion." I smiled when he said that and nodded. Watching him walk out, I smiled as I prepared to work today as Chief for the first time.

NOTE TO READERS: I am going to skip breakfast...next chapter will be Matt and Gabby walking into the firehouse's apartment.