Pretty

This is set after 3.11 Let Him Die, it ignores the arson storyline that started at the end of the episode. It was inspired by a line from House MD and the lovely Pallada.

An Admirer

Casey walked out of the fire ridden building with a man clinging to his turnout jacket, he dropped the victim off at the ambulance where the man was looked over by Brett and Mills before he went over to his rig. He was the last out of the building.

The man was sitting on the gurney at the back of the ambulance as he was checked over. He paid little attention to the two paramedics and kept his eyes on his rescuer.

Casey had taken off his mask and oxygen tank. There was soot on his face, highlighting his bright blue eyes; his blond hair was sticking up in all directions and there was sweat dripping down his brow. He was standing with Boden as the engine crew put the fire to rest, he was unfastening his turnout coat when it felt like he was being watched but he looked around and saw nothing.

The man eyed Casey as he looked around but went unnoticed by him. "Is he seeing someone?" he asked outwardly as Brett took the pressure cuff off his arm.

"Huh?" Brett was surprised at the question and didn't reply.

"He's too pretty to be straight," he said offhandedly.

Brett thought little of the comment and finished examining him. "Well, you're fine, you don't even need to go to the hospital," she smiled and he stood up from the gurney. "Kelly," she called him over as he walked past. "You still on for Molly's tomorrow night?"

"Of course," he replied.

"Casey coming?" she asked.

"I doubt it," he shook his head and looked over to his fellow lieutenant.

She sighed. "Because Dawson's going to be there?"

"They broke up, it's hard for him." Severide shrugged and headed to the squad rig. Everyone seemed to be taking Casey and Dawson's breakup lightly, not that they should be trying to hold back their tears or weeping when they thought about it, but it just seemed to Severide that no one really thought how Casey felt about the situation. After all, it was Dawson who had left him but perhaps that gossip hadn't spread yet. It's not like Casey would have spoken about it to anyone, or perhaps no one had really cared to ask either of them for the details, or they'd been falsified.

Their shift ended at 8am the next morning and that evening Severide was about to leave the house to meet the others at Molly's when he noticed Casey. He was sitting on the couch wearing a burgundy hoody and loose jeans, he'd not tamed his hair after showering and it had dried naturally, it made him look so much younger. Severide understood why he liked to keep it neat and tidy for work, it gave him an air of authority compared to now, where it jutted up, making him look less than his years.

"Sure you're not coming?" Severide asked as he grabbed his keys from the side and shoved them into his jeans pocket.

"I'm sure," Casey replied from the couch, barely looking up from his book

"You need to get out," Severide said, a little exasperated. Casey had done very little socialising recently, none if you discounted the couple of construction jobs he had going on at the moment, and Severide didn't count them.

"Not to Molly's, not tonight," he stated, head back down in his book.

"Because Dawson's working tonight?" Severide questioned.

"That is the obvious reason, yes," he replied. And the fact was he just didn't want to hang out with his crew all the time, it wasn't right.

Severide sighed. "Want me to stay here?"

"No, go have fun," Casey glanced up from his book.

Severide left Casey to his book and his own dismal thoughts. It had nearly been one week since Dawson had left him. Nearly one week since his fist had smashed right through the plaster board. Two weeks since he'd walked into Molly's to find Mills and Dawson hand in hand. Two weeks since he heard her proclaim that 'it's not the work part that's tough, it's the home part.' Two weeks since he spent the night driving around Chicago before arriving home in the early hours to change and head to the firehouse. The words still stung him now. Part of him wished he had slept with the blonde who'd brought his mobile phone back to 51, then at least he'd feel like there was a better, easier, explanation for his breakup with Dawson, but he wasn't one to cheat, it just wasn't him, he could never do that and the fact that Dawson thought he would broke his heart. He'd never given her a reason not to trust her.

He'd spent his time since their breakup keeping his schedule full, busying himself with a few construction jobs when he wasn't on shift. He had little time to think about everything if he kept himself busy, and he was certain Severide wouldn't be pleased if he came home to find more holes in the wall. His hand wouldn't be pleased either, the bruise was only just fading, and the skin only just healing. But he was angry, angry because he hadn't stopped her, angry because he'd tried his best and she'd still left, he'd done everything she wanted, they'd postponed getting married so she could complete her candidacy on Truck 81 when he could have said no. Things would have been easier if he'd said no to Boden the first time the idea was even suggested, she could have trained under someone else when she eventually got a spot, but he hadn't wanted to say no, he had wanted her to have everything she wanted right away because he loved her, he still loved her.

Severide returned home several hours later to find Casey's book discarded on the floor, the TV was on and there was a bottle of whiskey open on the coffee table, an empty glass held on his friend's lap. "You're drunk."

Casey looked up slowly. "So are you."

"Difference is I got drunk out with friends, you got drunk sat in our apartment on your own." Severide walked further into the apartment, a little unbalanced on his feet.

"Yeah, what are you gonna do about it?" he smiled lopsidedly.

Severide thought for a moment. "I'm gonna get another glass." He eyed the tumbler in Casey's hand. Maybe Casey would talk.

The next morning Severide watched Casey from his seat at the breakfast bar. Casey quickly grabbed a bottle of juice, an apple and flung his bag over his shoulder. "Rushing out?" Severide asked.

"I need to pick up some supplies before I go over to the Martins," he replied quickly before stepping out the door.

"See ya…" Severide muttered to himself as the front door closed. Casey hadn't explained the ins and outs of his breakup with Dawson, he was trying his best to be friendly with her despite how much she had hurt his best friend. It was in these situations he missed Shay even more, she'd know what to do, what to say. She'd know what to tell him to do and say also. Casey was incredibly private so he tried his best not to pry, but how was he supposed to help him feel better if he didn't know exactly what had happened?

During their next shift Casey kept to himself, he continued the pattern of retreating into his quarters after calls and meal times, a pattern that had been implemented since Dawson left him. Of course he spoke to her cordially enough and was an upstanding lieutenant. He would help her out with anything she was unsure of, answered any questions and gave her orders like he would any candidate, only that feeling of dread whenever he sent her into a burning building still gnawed away at his gut, his heart still plummeted when she wasn't exactly where he'd told her to be.

"You looking for someone?" Herrmann questioned when he walked out of the common room to find a lost looking man. He vaguely recognised him.

"Hi, yes, you guys pulled me out of a burning building a few days ago, a Lieutenant Casey did actually, I wanted to say thank you," the man replied.

"He's in his quarters. I'll go get him," Herrmann smiled.

Casey was sat hunched over some paperwork when Herrmann popped his head round the door announcing. "You have a fan."

"What?" He twisted round and frowned.

"He has flowers and wine," Herrmann said with a smile, they often got small tokens of appreciation after helping people on what was the worst days of their lives.

"Flowers? That's a rare one." His eyes widened a little in surprise.

Herrmann just shrugged. "He wants to say thanks to you."

"Right, thanks, I'll be there in a minute," he replied. He finished the sentence he was in the middle of before getting up, and heading to meet the man he'd rescued from the apartment fire during his last shift.

"Hi," the man beamed as he thrust a hand out to shake Casey's. "Harvey. You pulled me out of…"

"I remember," Casey smiled and shook Harvey's hand.

"Erm… I got you something to say thank you," Harvey passed him a large bunch of flowers and a bag that contained the wine bottle.

"Thank you, just doing our job," he replied self-deprecatingly.

"Well, it was very nice to meet you," Harvey smiled eagerly.

Casey tried to mask the confused frown from his face. "Erm… you too, nice to meet you too," he stuttered a little.

"Thanks again and see you around," Harvey said, smile still plastered across his face.

"Yeah… see you around." He couldn't hide his frown at the odd turn their meeting had taken but Harvey had already turned and left. Herrmann and Cruz quickly swiped the flowers and wine from Casey. "Hey! Not on shift. Take it to Molly's," he called after them.

Just as he was about to head back to his quarters he spotted a card that must have fallen from the flowers. He picked it up and walked back to his quarters, sitting down at his desk. He opened the card expecting the generic thank you note, only to be surprised to discover it was just him, not the firehouse, that had been addressed and Harvey's number was jotted down beneath the man's name. He shook his head and dropped the card down onto the tray on his desk.

"Lieutenant!" Herrmann greeted him cheerfully from behind the bar at Molly's the next day. "Not seen you in here since… ah…"

Casey masked his face with a well-rehearsed smile, "Meeting Severide," he said as Herrmann poured him a beer.

"You've come straight from a job?" Herrmann asked.

He nodded.

"You've been busy recently."

"Good money before everything really slows down for winter," he replied.

"Why is that?" Herrmann asked curiously as he passed Casey his drink.

"Guess people are just less inclined to make any changes, or have much work done, and Christmas is an expensive time of year for some," he responsive.

"Yeah," Herrmann grumbled, "Don't I know it… You should see the length of some of the Christmas list the kids sent to 'Santa'…"

"Hey." It was Severide, he took a seat next to him and ordered a beer. "You ready for the best night of your life?" he grinned.

"Best night of my life?" Casey frowned dubiously. All Severide had suggested was going to a few different bars, having something to eat, a little to drink. He hadn't really wanted to go, but knew he'd have to stop hiding away at home to avoid constant questions about his mental welfare.

"Well, it might be… Neither of us will know because I doubt we'll remember anything tomorrow morning," Severide grinned, almost mischievously.

"Kelly, I…" he began hesitantly.

"You want to have a good time, I'll show you a good time," Severide said enthusiastically.

"I don't want to get so drunk that I don't remember anything…" he told him.

"Spoil sport," Severide laughed.

"Thought you and your liver were supposed to be taking it easy?"

After a couple of drinks each they decided to head to another bar, or more precisely Severide had decided it was time to go to another bar. He steered Casey away from his stool towards the front door, the front door that held so many memories and feeling's for Casey, he had helped Dawson choose it and installed it for her nearly two years ago. Severide's arm was around Casey's back, ushering him out of the bar when the front door opened as they reached it.

"Lieutenant Casey!" came a very enthusiastic greeting from a man the open door revealed. Severide didn't recognise him.

"Oh, hi, Harvey..." Casey replied, a little shocked to see the man again.

"You two know each other?" Severide questioned.

"Yeah," Harvey replied in unison to Casey's honest, "Not really."

"Are you leaving?" Harvey asked Casey, he'd been focused on him the entire time; he gave Severide very little thought and no attention.

"Yeah, bye…" he responded. Unknown to them Harvey eyed the arm that Severide had placed around Casey's back as they left the bar.

"What was that?" Severide asked when they emerged onto the sidewalk.

"Nothing," he shook his head, "Can we just go back home?"

"Sure... if that's what you really want?" Severide replied, although there was disappointment evident in his tone.

"It is," he insisted. For some reason Harvey's presence had unnerved him, he was probably overthinking it because it's not like Molly's wasn't open to the public, anyone could walk in and have a drink, something to eat, but the fact he'd greeted him so enthusiastically and had left his phone number in a card addressed to him put him on edge. But perhaps he really was just grateful for being pulled out of the apartment fire, it wouldn't be the first time someone came and thanked them all wholeheartedly for doing their duty. He would just put the man to the back of his mind, he didn't know his past, his story, maybe he was lonely, had no family, no friends, it wouldn't be out of the ordinary for someone to reach out to their rescuer.

TBC