Matt Casey's nieces and nephew

Chapter 68

Casey glanced at Jake a few times as they drove to the firehouse that morning. He was being unusually quiet lately, ever since Dawson had moved out. It wasn't like him at all, he would always be asking Casey a million questions on the days he worked with him but today it felt like he was annoyed, like he couldn't be bothered.

As they pulled up and Casey put the truck in park, Jake still made no attempt to start a conversation. Casey put his hand on his shoulder, stopping him from jumping out of the truck. Jake looked over at him with a look of surprise, unaware why Casey was holding him back.

"What's going on with you?" Casey asked with a frown. "Why are you so quiet?" Casey asked him.

"No reason," Jake shrugged. "I'm just tired." Jake says.

"Are you sure that's all it is?" Casey  asked Jake.

Jake sighed, he knew Casey could always see right through him, "I haven't seen or talked to Gabby ever since she left." Jake said. "I don't really know if I want to see her again" Jake says.

"Jake," Casey said.

"No, Dad, I know what you're going to say, but she left." Jake said. "She knew all the crap we went through as kids, and she knew I was guarded and I finally opened up to her and she walked out. And she knows the whole story of what Ellie went through . She went through the worst story growing up. We couldn't tell you growing up she was petrified dad she didn't tell anyone because he would have hurt her if she said anything . "

"I know, Jake, I know." Casey said. "But she didn't mean to hurt you, and I think you know that." Casey says.

"She didn't have to go like that." Jake says.

Casey put the truck in park as they pulled up to the house. "Look, I know you're upset, but you can't go into the house with this chip on your shoulder." He said. "You don't have to talk to her if you don't want to, but don't cause a scene." Casey says sternly .

"So, just stay quiet and agree with her like you did?" Jake said. "Maybe if you would have made a scene she would have stayed."Jake says.

Casey grabbed Jake's arm as he tried to leave the truck. "Jake, do not bring personal matters into the house." Casey says to Jake firmly. "You hear me?" Casey says sternly.

"Yeah, Dad." Jake sighed. "I got it." Jake says.

Casey nodded and headed into the house with Jake. It was a little awkward between Casey and Dawson, and Jake took Casey's advice and ignored her, which only added to the tension around the house. When Dawson found a baby outside, Jake was further annoyed with how motherly she started acting. They got a call, but Dawson stayed behind with the baby and due to the nature of the call Casey told Jake he couldn't go. It was mostly because of safety, but a part of him figured Jake would have to work it out with Dawson if it was only them in the house.

Jake was sitting at the table doing homework, trying to look as busy as possible. Dawson came in holding the baby and watched him. She knew he was upset with her, and she understood why, but it was still hard for her to have him ignore her.

"What are you working on?" Gabby asks Jake.

"Homework." Jake said shortly.

" Do you need any help?" Gabby asks Jake.

"Nope." Jake says rudely  where Gabby could hear the P at the word  Jake had said .

Dawson sighed, "Come on, I'm really trying here, Jake." Gabby says sweetly.

"It's funny that you'll try so hard to talk to me, but you wouldn't try at all with Dad." Jake says.

"And, there it is." Gabby says as she nodded, "Jake, it didn't have anything to do with you , Ellie or Grace." Gabby says.