Title: Zero Degrees
Chapter 1 – Uninvited Guests
Summary: Severide asks Casey to help him and his dad set up his father's hunting cabin for the winter but when some violent strangers show up, the three of them get more than they bargained for. Soon it's not just the harsh winter elements they are fighting against.
Disclaimer: Chicago Fire and its characters are the property of Dick Wolfe, NBC and….well sadly not me
"Hey Hermann any heaters you can invest in?" Casey asks with a small frown as he rubs his hands together; dropping his boots inside the warm eating area as Otis hurries to close the large bay doors to keep the cold weather out.
"Ah ladies it's not that bad," Severide snickers as he looks up as Casey nears his table. "Can't take…damn that's cold," Severide huffs, pulling away as Casey's hand pulls back from his neck as the rest of the guys snicker. "Find a hot water bottle."
"Right now I'll settle for some hot water," Casey groans as he heads for the locker room in search of an extra sweater; Severide in tow. "Seriously cold out there."
"Speaking of the cold…"
"Any request that starts off that way…I'm saying no," Casey chuckles as he pulls his locker open and then glances over at his friend. "I don't do outside jobs in this weather," Casey tells him with a small smile.
"Actually it's not a job…well sorta is but you won't get paid for it," Severide smirks. "My dad has a small cabin up by Shabonna lake area and he is heading up this weekend to get it ready for the season. And if you wanna come with us…would be kinda fun."
"Does it have a heater?" Casey retorts.
"Fireplace and running water."
"Good because if you had mentioned an outhouse I would have said no right off the bat."
"Trust me I wouldn't be going…damn imagine sitting on one of those in the middle of the night?" Severide replies and they both shudder. "Just bring a sleeping bag and something for breakfast and that's it."
"And supper?"
"We'll catch supper," Severide grins as he turns and leaves the locker room, Casey watching the now empty space with a wondering frown.
"As in hunting? Is he serious?" He mutters to himself as he grabs his sweater and slams the locker door shut. "Kelly!" His voice calls out as he heads back into the eating area to see whether his counterpart was indeed joking; pausing as he looks at Hermann watching Otis filing up a container to take outside.
"What is Otis doing?"
"Trying to make ice cubes," Hermann retorts, earning a nod from Otis. "It's zero degrees outside."
"So?"
"That's the temperature water freezes."
"I know that but…why is he doing it?" Casey presses.
"He's racing the actual refrigerator," Mouch pipes up as Casey shakes his head and goes in search of Severide to confirm plans for the weekend. Part of him was a bit apprehensive in spending time with Kelly and his father, Benny, just the three of them; telling himself he'd feel like an outsider around a natural father and son and hoping the situation wouldn't force his carefully hidden resentment to come to the fore and manifest itself in the form of bitterness toward his close friend. That wouldn't be fair to Kelly for what my mom did…I blame her…not him…but as much as he thinks he should say no, he finds himself wondering what he should pack and saying it would be a benign weekend and maybe even a bit fun.
XXXXXXXX
Casey wakes up early Saturday morning with a stiffness in his side; his mind recalling the fall from the landing at the call the day before and how he had landed oddly on his side and had the wind temporarily knocked out of him for his ill-timed heroics.
"Wonder if I can just cancel," he gently groans as he looks at the time and frowns before pushing himself out of bed and heading downstairs, flipping on the coffee maker before heading back upstairs to have a shower and find some warm clothes to wear for the trip.
'We won't be spending much time outside,' Severide's words remind him as he yanks a black turtleneck over his head. 'We just gotta get the inside ready and make sure the area around the entrance to the cabin is clear. A fireplace…beer but…sadly no TV…we'll try to beat dad at poke…it'll be fun.'
He gathers up his knapsack and rolled up sleeping bag and heads downstairs, unlocking the door for Severide when he gets there and heads into the kitchen to have some breakfast.
"Morning!" Severide calls out about twenty minutes later as he enters Casey's modest home.
"Hey back here!" Casey calls out in return; Severide entering the small kitchen just as he fills up his travel mug with coffee. "Want some?"
"Sure," Severide takes the remaining bit of coffee and heads for the small sugar container on the counter. "All set?"
"And no ice fishing right?"
"Nope. The lake's frozen over but I think some can at one area of the lake but it's never been my thing."
"And that…is good," Casey turns around and offers his friend a small smile as they both finish their coffee.
"But you have boots right?"
"Boots?"
"Well there is snow up there also. Probably even more than here."
"Boots yes, snowsuit no."
"Snowsuit…damn I had one as a kid. First one was blue…felt like the cookie monster from sesame street," Severide relays the memory with a groan; earning a mild laugh from his friend.
"Mine was green…at least cookie monster was nice. I was called Oscar by the neighbor kids," Casey's turn to relay the childhood memory.
"And Christie?"
"Ah always the angel."
"Really?"
"Really."
As Severide packs up the few pieces that he's bringing with him, Casey closes and locks his house and then joins Severide outside; both of them settling into Severide's car for the few hours drive out to the rural lake area. "Where does your dad live now?"
"I swear at a shelter sometimes," Severide lightly groans. "He's the hardest person to get a hold of. I keep reminding him has a phone but…but I mean we're not that close right?"
"Really? Then how come…this weekend and such?"
"Well we're closer now. I guess I can thank Renee for bringing us back together. She sent me to him…he told me to stay and I gain my dad and lost my girlfriend," he concludes with a small chuckle. "But in the end…I think I got the better end of the deal."
"Think so too," Casey adds with a tight lipped smile as the subject is quickly changed to that of what other features the cabin had to offer, either in itself or the surrounding area. But as they near the area, Casey feels his nervous anxiety starting to gain momentum as he looks at Benny Severide's truck and now wonders if maybe he'd just be a third wheel around father and son. Kelly invited you here as a friend…him and his father aren't that close… his mind reminds him. Still…blood is thicker than water and Kelly his is son…that's closer than what I have, Casey's silent remorse argues back.
"Hey you made it!" Benny calls out as Severide and Casey slowly get out of the warm cabin of Severide's Camaro and stretch in the cool mid-morning air, their breath hanging before them a few seconds before dissipating.
"Matt Casey."
"Benny Severide. Glad you could join us Matt," Benny extends his hand and offers a firm shake before he pulls back and looks at both boys with a wide grin. "Ready to earn supper?"
"We don't actually have to catch it right?"
"You didn't tell him?" Benny looks from Casey's question to his son with a straight face; Severide offering a shrug and Casey looking from one to the other in wonder.
"Sure I did," Severide deadpans as Casey looks at his friend nervously. But a few seconds later, Benny smiles and lightly laughs, his son following suit and Casey shaking his head as Benny slaps him on the arm. "Hope you don't play poker with Kelly."
"Matt's not that bad," Severide offers in his friend's weak defense. "He just doesn't know you that well yet."
"Well…we'll remedy that later. Alright…let's get started then."
The two younger men head back to the car and gather their things before heading toward the entrance of the cabin; Casey slowly entering and looking around the modest space with a small frown. Severide gestures to the left and both of them head toward the small bedroom, Casey once again entering first, flipping on the light and emitting a small chuckle.
"Are you serious? Bunk beds?"
"Hey it's a hunting cabin not a resort," Severide replies as they both stare with amused expressions at the bunk beds before them. "Call it…"
"At our age?" Casey jokes.
"You'd rather we wrestle for it?" Severide retorts, earning an eye roll from Casey. "You want the top?"
"I'm the guest here."
"And?" Severide goads.
"And I am not taking the top," Casey shakes his head as he tosses his rolled up sleeping bag onto the mattress of the bottom bunk and then looks back at his friend. "What's in the other room?"
"Same thing," Severide shrugs. "Dad will probably sleep on the couch in the living room."
"Feels like camp," Casey muses.
"So is that permission to put a frog in your sleeping bag?"
"As long as it's only a frog," Casey smirks as Severide laughs in return; the two of them exiting the room and talking about their worst camp and camping experiences.
"You like the five star accommodations Matt?" Benny asks as the two younger men rejoin Severide's father out back.
"Very…familiar," Casey replies slowly.
"Hope he let you pick…he's always liked the top bunk."
"Really?" Casey turns back to Severide with a suspicious glance.
"Hey I told you to call it fair and square," Severide counters as he pulls away and leaves Casey standing there uttering a small groan before he heads for toward the action.
"Okay see these cables…we gotta clear them away…and those planks…" Benny instructs as yanks one from a snowy patch and then heads toward a pile of debris and tosses it on top.
"Air sure is fresh," Casey comments as he heads toward the pile with an armload of debris. They clear the area for about two hours before the air starts to affect more than their lungs. Just before Casey's arms can relieve his current wooden load, he feels a small 'pelt' on his back and turns to see Severide chuckle as the snowball falls to the ground. Without wasting too much time, Casey quickly grabs a hunk of snow and hurls it at Severide as he tries to duck behind a tree.
Foregoing work in favor of childish antics, Casey picks up another handful of snow and runs toward Severide; Severide countering with his own as both of them throw at once. Casey's hitting Severide in the thigh and Severide's hitting Casey in the mid-section; both of them laughing and enjoying the fun; Benny Severide watching the grown men in amusement. Casey bends down to pick up another handful of snow but stands up just in time to receive a clump right in the face.
"Oh crap," Severide offers between bursts of laughter; Casey nodding his head before he picks up a chunk of snow and races after Severide, taking advantage of his friend falling and pelting him in the neck with the firm ball of snow. Casey tries to grab at another snowball only to have Severide grabs his legs and pull him down into the snow, the two of them lying side by side laughing.
"Truce…" Casey utters breathlessly as they both look up at the barren braches beneath the dove-grey skies.
"Truce…" Severide agrees as Benny walks up to them.
"Slackers!" He laughs as he pelts both of them at the same time with a handful of snow, the hardened lumps landing on each of their belly's; promoting Casey and Severide to look at each other in surprise.
"Let's get him!" Severide laughs as he and Casey quickly get up and arm themselves, Benny Severide instantly seeking refuge behind the large pile of debris as the snowball war wages for about twenty minutes until all three call a truce and slump down on the bench at the back of the cabin with heaving chests and flushed faces.
"Sorta reminds me of the first time I brought you up here Kelly…you remember that?" Benny asks his son next to him; Casey on the end listening intently.
"I remember the time the bear got into the cabin."
"Bear?" Casey asks in shock.
"Yeah big ole bear…was in the fall…" Benny's voice trails off as he starts into the story, Casey's head resting back against the side of the wooden structure but his eyes kept straight ahead. He listens to the friendly banter between father and son and feels his mind starting to flounder in melancholy thoughts.
'Dad can we go to the lake this summer?'
'I'll check with mom first but don't see why not Matthew. Maybe we can make it a ritual, ever summer we head to the lake…who knows maybe we can get a cabin…something we can take the grandkids to when you and your sister all married and have families of your own.'
Of course that future now would never happen and they only went to the lake a few times before things started to strain between his parents; his mother fed up with his father's professional lifestyle and him fed up with her constant badgering and the two of them finally separating….his father's death coming not long after.
Casey feels his jaw tighten and quickly pastes on a smile as Severide looks over at the tail end of a joke.
"Good one…" Casey answers with a strained tone, earning a small frown from his friend; the growing tension lost on the elder Severide at the end of the bench.
"Yeah…those were good times," Benny muses as he looks to his right. "You boys can use this cabin anytime you want…come alone…bring friends…just clean up before you go."
"Sure," both Casey and Severide answer at once.
"Alright still a few hours of daylight left…I'll get some wood for tonight."
"We'll be right there," Severide tells his father as Benny stands up and heads back down the small steps; Casey about to follow suit. "Matt…"
"Yeah?"
"You okay? That snowball fight…did you get hurt?"
"No why?"
"You seem…quieter than usual."
"It's all good," Casey offers a less than enthusiastic smile as he slaps Severide on the back and tries to pull away.
"Hey I know he's a little rough around the edges," Severide quickly grabs Casey's arm and pulls him back, "but he's harmless."
Casey looks at him with a small stony gaze, his mind racing to tell him the truth about how he wished his dad was there with them and the four of them could have a fun weekend together – father/son weekend – instead of him now starting to feel pangs of envy toward a close friend and not wanting to damage their friendship.
"Might have gotten my bell rung but…am okay," Casey lies as he turns and heads down the stairs to help with the wood, Severide watching with an uneasy feeling and wondering what Casey could possibly be holding back. Did he really get hurt? Or is it something else? If he's miserable here he can just leave and I'll get a ride back with dad…what is it Matt?
The three of them work at finding some dry wood for the evening use, Casey volunteering to get the fireplace started and leaving father and son to collect the wood for the night and the following day; the three of them leaving Sunday about supper time. He clears out the chimney and then casts a morose gaze out the window to see Kelly and his father laughing over something; his lips trying to offer them a small smile as he turns away and continues his task.
"Hey…that's not a bad lookin' fire for a white guy," Benny praises as he and Kelly finally enter the cabin for the rest of the night; the work for the day done and the rest waiting until the break of day tomorrow.
"We're almost out of matches," Casey holds up the small packet.
"I think I have a pack of those barbeque lighters in the trunk," Severide suggests. "I'll get them later."
"And after supper we'll see who really has the best poker face."
"You taking on the two of us? Hopefully you aren't playing with real cash," Severide tosses at his father.
"Matchsticks," Benny smiles as Casey nods and then disappears into their shared bedroom for the night; Severide going in search of his freshly standoffish friend.
"You know if he's going to sleep out there…I can always go into the other room and give you the bottom bunk," Casey suggests as he grabs his bag and then turns around to face his friend's wondering expression.
"You know if you really don't want to be here…you can always take my car," Severide suggests as the two stand a few feet apart.
"No, it's good."
"Wanna tell me what's really going on then?" Severide pushes.
"Not really."
"You're not leaving the room until you tell me," Severide lightly warns.
"Is that so?" Casey looks at him in amusement. "You…stop me?"
"I could pin you in seconds," Severide jokes as Casey's face tries to relax. "Matt…what's up?"
"I feel like a bit of a third wheel here," Casey finally confesses.
"Matt I'm sorry if…"
"Nope not you," Casey replies firmly. "My mom has been acting up…saying stuff about that night…and yet not fully telling me everything."
"What'd she say?"
"That my father said something about me and she went to kill him because of it. She always puts it back on me and then I feel guilty for doubting her. Am almost about to send her back to prison so I drop it," Casey relates heavily.
"Sorry…wow that's a lot of guilt."
"That and the key…" Casey growls as he turns around and shakes his head. "You two might not be close but you still have him around and I…I'm being silly and like I said…I don't mind taking the other bunk in the other room."
"Okay I'm sorry about your mom and all that. I don't even know where mine is," Severide lightly huffs as Casey turns back. "But um…with you here…it kinda keeps him in line…and me," Severide offers his own confession. "He hasn't always been around and I also have some resentment about that but with you here…the arguments are kept at bay."
"So I'm a referee?"
"I'll buy you a nice striped shirt," Severide grins as Casey's face finally relaxes. "'sides it's getting dark and these roads as you know in the dark are bad and if you banged up my car…you'd be in trouble."
"When you put it that way…" Casey finally nods as he tosses his bag back onto the bed.
"And for the record…I do like being on top."
"And for the record…you wouldn't pin me," Casey retorts back.
"You are so gonna lose that bet," Severide's voice jokes as they exit the bedroom and head back into the living room to help Benny with supper. Casey's tension had somewhat subsided but even still…when he'd hear father and son reminiscing about something they did or making new plans for something they would do, he'd have to plaster on a fake smile and pray that his agitation didn't come to the fore and ruin the evening or grow resentment toward his friend. The three of them finally sit down to some fast fry steaks and beer; talking mostly about the cabin and work – personal things kept at bay.
"Alright who's ready to lose?" Benny asks about half hour after the few dishes were done and the small table cleared. They all decided to play for pennies since they were out of matchsticks. The friendly game lasts a few hours with the three of them pretty close; Casey's smile a bit broader as he had earned a few extra.
"We'll take him tomorrow night son," Benny pats Kelly on the back; Casey giving them a tight lipped nod and trying not to let the bits of father/son affection ruin the weekend with his friend. "Alright you two…am calling it a night."
"You actually sleeping in one of the bunks?" Severide looks at his dad in wonder.
"Figured you two might not be tired yet or wanna watch have another drink or talk or…wrestle," Benny jokes. "To avoid obvious fatherly bias am not garnering a wager on who'd win that one."
The two of them watch Benny slip into the other room and close the door and then exchange amused expressions.
"You want something more to drink?" Severide wonders as he leans back in his chair by the fireplace.
"Actually I'm good. The fresh air sure makes you tired."
"First time I was up here…with all the quiet and the pitch black…I had to leave the hall light on," Severide offers lightly as he looks at the fire; Casey looking over at him in wonder.
"Too peaceful?" Casey lightly smirks as Severide looks over with a sleepy nod. "You look tired."
"You too."
With that both of them decide to call it a night; Severide heading for the bathroom and Casey to the bedroom to change before they switched and then reconvene in the small bedroom.
"Forgot to ask…do you snore?" Severide asks in a soft tone after both had settled into their bunks for the night.
"Not that Hallie complained about before…you?"
"No but dad…damn sounds like a freight train," Severide jokes as Casey offers a small snicker into the dimly lit area.
"Forgot to ask…any frogs in here?" Casey suddenly asks, further earning himself another chuckle from his bunkmate.
"Maybe a frozen one?" Severide retorts as Casey mutters something and flips onto his side and casts a tired gaze outside into the open area; his eyes fixing on the few flickers left inside the fireplace. They both mumble a goodnight to the other and start to doze off. About an hour before sunup Casey is pulled awake by the chill in the air.
'I think I have a pack of those barbeque lighters in the trunk of the car…' Casey recalls Severide's comment from earlier. Not wanting to wake anyone for a task he's more than capable of doing, Casey as quietly as possible, slips from the warm nest of covers and into the main area. Dressed in sweat pants and a sweat shirt, he pulls on his boots, curls his fingers around the keys to Severide's car, grabs the flashlight and heads for the front door.
"Matt…" Severide's lips offer a small huff as he's rudely awoken from his sleep by what he thinks is his name being called out followed by a car door being slammed; his eyes instantly snapping open. He hears his father snoring in the other room and smirks as he grabs his flashlight and then carefully peers over the edge. Instead of seeing his friend sleeping below him he looks at the emptiness and frowns. "Huh?" He quickly shines his light on the dresser and notices Matt's wallet, phone and home keys and then looks out toward the main area and through the half open door, sees the fire has indeed gone out and it was now getting cold.
"He went for…the lighters…" Severide groans as he turns off his light and then tries to settle back down. But its mere seconds later that his world is turned completely upside down. He hears heavy footsteps coming up the small set of front stairs and frowns in the dark. Matt doesn't sound that heavy…must be really tired, he inwardly muses.
The door opens and then he hears something that is totally out of place. What the hell? More footsteps?
He then hears…:
"You settle down or else."
Another man with Matt? Was he talking to Matt? What the hell is going on? Who the hell is that?
But it's not until Severide very quietly slips from his bed and then peers through the crack of the half open door and just as the small inner light is flicked on that he finally realizes the dangerous situation they are facing. Matt…he inwardly growls as he notices his friend, who with his wrists crudely bound behind his back and being held around the neck by one of the men with a gun, struggles to stay upright.
One man?…oh damn…two…oh what the hell…three? Armed? What?
A/N: Uh oh…. Hehe *evil grin* oh you knew the peaceful playfulness couldn't last too long with us at the helm right. Tried to get a bit of humor and some friendly tension in there between them before the danger appeared. So …will they find Kelly? Will Benny wake up to a nasty surprise? What do the three men want? Would love your thoughts so please do review before you go and thanks so much!