AN: set a couple weeks after 2.13. Katie is safe (because I'm assuming she will be). spoilers through 2.13

Under the Milky Way

Christopher Herrman had situated himself in the very center of the common room, even stood himself right up onto a wobbly plastic chair (because for

Christopher Herrman, any height advantage was an advantage) and cleared his throat loudly. He interrupted Cruz's cooking, Shay and Rafferty's banter, Otis

and Severide's gossip and Casey's internal brooding, all with one, "Ahem."

"So I know you all know what tonight is..." he grinned his big, proud Herrman grin, looking around to make sure he had everyone's attention. He did. "Tonight is

the grand REopening of Molly's!"

Everyone cheered, knowing what the announcement would be already, but happy for their co-businessmen family members, especially Herrman.

"We got everything all set, so myself, Otis, Dawson and our newest partner, Shay, all expect you to be there!"

Another round of cheers erupted and Herrman's pride soared.

"Expect?!" Otis yelled out in question.

"You're right, Otis," Herrman corrected himself. "To hell with 'expect.' You all better be there and party down with us!"

The tone of the room was light and honestly the men and women of firehouse 51 were in serious need of a party. Work, and life in general, had been pretty rough of late, and each and every one of them was looking forward to a much needed (and deserved) 48 hours off. They just had to make it to end of shift first.

"Molly's opens at 8 you guys, but feel free to come and pre-game with us early. We'll be there making sure everything is in working order before our hopeful patrons arrive," Herrman told them as he hopped off of the chair with a loud scratch across the linoleum.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"You're coming, right?" Shay asked suddenly, breaking the abnormal (but only slightly awkward) silence that had fallen over herself and Rafferty as they stocked the ambulance later that afternoon.

"Coming where?" Rafferty practically spat at her, but Shay had grown to know her new partner well enough to see right through it, to know that Rafferty knew exactly what she was asking.

"To Molly's, dummy," Shay laughed. "You're coming, right?"

Shay sounded a tiny bit like an excited child and Rafferty wasn't sure she'd ever heard her partner that way before.

"Doubtful," Rafferty shot her down without remorse, but a smirk lingered on her face despite herself. She didn't know that Shay had caught it.

"Oh shut up!" Shay threw a box of medical gloves at the woman's chest and they bounced off, surprising her. "Why wouldn't you come?"

"Well I wasn't really invited," Rafferty shrugged and Shay could tell that her new partner was being sincere. Her insecurities were showing. She was no longer being playful.

"Herrman invited the whole damn city! How can you say you weren't invited?"

"He was talking to his friends. To his family. He and I have barely spoken a word to each other since I moved to 51. Honestly, I don't know any of you very well, and I mean, it's your party..."

"Exactly. It's our party," Shay corrected with a smile, nudging Rafferty's shoulder. "You're a part of 51 now. Everyone wants you to come tonight."

Rafferty laughed thickly.

"It's nice of you to say that, but I know damn well that you haven't talked to anyone about me coming tonight."

"How do you know that?!" Shay asked innocently.

"Um, because I've been with you every second since Herrman's little announcement," Rafferty raised her eyebrow in defiance.

"Oh," Shay sighed, knowing she'd lost that one. "Well, as you may recall, I'm the fourth partner now... so it's kind of like it's my party..."

"Humble, aren't you?"

"In fact there wouldn't even be a grand REopening of Molly's if not for me, so..."

"So...what?" Rafferty challenged, smiling right in Shay's face, throwing the girl off slightly.

"So you have to come. I demand it," Shay nodded definitively.

"Ha! I have to come? You demand it?"

"What? Didn't you hear me?" Shay smirked.

"You really like to win, don't you?" Rafferty asked, still smiling but suddenly more serious.

"It isn't about winning right now. I want you to be there tonight. I'd really like to spend some time with you when you don't have to be all stuffy," Shay cocked an eyebrow and Rafferty fake-gasped at her insult. "Please come to Molly's tonight?" Shay asked, sincerely, quietly, resting her hand gently on Rafferty's forearm and making a point to not be 'too gay' about it.

Rafferty rolled her eyes but nodded, against her better judgment. How could she say no to those giant blue eyes?

Shay smiled the most peaceful, genuine smile that Rafferty had ever seen.

"And yes, I really do like to win."