good/right/real

Chapter 28: Bless Me and Release

Summary:Final confrontation.

Shift is coming to an end. The dedication ceremony is in a few minutes. With both those things comes the crushing realization that the goal he set for himself won't happen. They won't have Gabby's murder solved before they dedicate 61 in her memory. He knew better when he set that goal for himself but the timing seemed too coincidental.

He sends up a silent apology to Gabby as they all get in their positions and wait for Antonio and the rest of the Dawsons to make an appearance. Once they've arrived, they begin.

CFD had Gabby's name, birthdate, and date of death immortalized on the driver's side door of 61. It was an honor but not nearly enough comfort in the face of losing her.

Shay made a beautiful speech about 51 honoring Gabby's legacy by trying to be the best version of themselves they can possibly be every time the bells go off and about how they work hard every day to make her proud. It's Matt's job to unveil Gabby's name and it's nearly too much. He realizes now that this is the closure he's been lacking. He avoided closure during her funeral and the first six weeks she was gone, but now the dedication ceremony is allowing him another chance to say goodbye.

The arson investigation is doing that too.

Her killer needs to be locked away and he will help make that happen however he can.

For Gabby, for himself, for Shay, for the entire house.

This is his moment to say goodbye. It's taken far too long but he feels ready now to acknowledge that the future he had planned will never come to be, but that doesn't mean he has no future at all. Gabby wouldn't want him to throw his life away. She'd want him to do something with it, make something of it, and be happy.

As soon as they catch this Gish bastard, that's exactly what he plans to do.

Be happy.

That night they all show up at Molly's to reminisce about Gabby and enjoy each other. Mills and Brett are late and he notices the bandage on Sylvie's neck is new and Pete looks at her with extra affection. She must have told him about the call. Mills hovers a little closer than normal, with his hand constantly on the small of her back. Matt can't blame him. He'd be a bit protective too. Hell, even as her friend he feels a bit protective.

Chief joins them just before Cunningham walks in. Casey feels for Boden and his situation with his father. He has to sit back and watch someone he loves suffer. Matt would never be good at that. He'd take on any sort of pain to spare someone he cared about. He knows Boden feels very much the same.

Cunningham stops at their table. Her expression isn't encouraging.

"I have some bad news," she says reluctantly. "OFI has decided not to pursue Adrian Gish at this time."

A ripple of shock spreads throughout the group. None of them can believe it. They all question her but Cunningham has nothing further to offer them except an apology.

"My boss has been doing this for a long time. He knows what cases will stick. This one won't. At least not yet."

The conclusion is that they'll have to wait and see what happens -- for him to make a mistake. Matt's tired of waiting. He's tired of letting someone else set the terms.

"Unbelievable," Shay mutters bitterly.

Casey knows exactly how she feels.

"I'm sorry," Cunningham says one last time before she walks away from them for good.

Antonio shakes his head from where he stands behind Leslie. "Hell no. I'm not waiting anymore." He looks to Boden and then Casey. "You guys have had your chance. Now we're doing this CPD's way."