Dawsey| Above the clouds

26

I grab all the things I need and pack them in the largest backpack I can find. Then I call a cab and go to 51.

I don't even have to enter the building before I feel that something strange is going on. The guys at the squad table are strangely looking over their shoulders and I can clearly see Cruze texting on his phone.

I shouldn't expect a surprise because if there is none I will look stupid when I enter the common room. You know, almost already smiling and expecting someone popping up behind the couch. They will see it, and I will have to be ashamed of  myself. So I'm just going to expect nothing.

I walk by the squad table with Zoë in my arms.

"Glad you're back Gab" Kelly says.

"You too" I say.

Then they go back to their card games as if everything is normal.

I continue toward the common room. When I reach it and walk in, everyone is sitting down. Mouth and Otis in the couch, and the rest at the table. They're all having a morning coffee and some are reading a newspaper.

"Hey Gabby" Matt says, looking up from the newspaper he's reading.

"Welcome back" Mouch says, not even moving his gaze from the Tv.

"Thank you" I reply and sit down at the end of the table.

Suddenly and actually very unexpectedly everyone stand up from their chairs.

"Surprise!" Everyone say loudly.

Even the strangely acting squad guys had entered the room when I wasn't paying attention.  They brought balloons and confetti.

My mouth raise into a huge smile and I just want to bounce to everyone and hug them all but the fact that I'm holding a baby in my arms stops me from doing that.

"Thank you guys" I say.

Just as I say that Boden enters, he's carrying a large yellow cake with candles and a baby figure on the top. He place in on the table in front of me.

"Look Zoë, it's for you" I say and look down on her. But she has fallen asleep "Well she definitely got this from you Matt" I say.

Everyone laughs and gather around the table.

"This really means a lot to me guys, thank you"  I say. "And I love the cake by the way, it matches her blanket" I continue.

"We thought is was lame with all this baby colour, boys and girls, pink and blue, it's just lame so we went with yellow" Sylvie says.

"Well, you guys look hungry so..." I say and grab the cake server and start to cut a slice.

"Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, structure fire South Stewart Ave"

The whole assembly sighs at the some time and leave toward the trucks. But Matt is still here.

"We'll be back soon, love you" he say and kiss me quickly before he leaves.

And everything is back to how it used to be. Me in a big empty firehouse. At least I have Zoë now, we can entertain each other for a while.

Oh wait, she's asleep.

Well. I'm going to eat this slice of cake and the hide rest so they think I ate it all or something. I'm already bored.