Title: Chicago Fire, Facing Reality
Summary: Kelly Severide goes to his and Leslie Shay's apartment after her death and it becomes more real to him. A friend helps him in that moment. Matt Casey.
Disclaimers: The show is property of Dick Wolfe, and NBC. I don't own anything. Just borrowing the characters to practice my writing.
A/N: A one shot. I found out that a dear lady and wonderful friend has passed away last night. I will miss her. I wanted to write this.
Kelly Severide, uses his key to open his apartment door and steps inside. It is eerily silent. He just stands at the doorway looking in. Afraid to take a step inside. He can't ignore the reality that is facing him.
His best friend in the whole world has left behind loved ones whom mourn her. Kelly takes a step back against the closed apartment door. He can't bare to take a step inside. He is still in his firehouse T-shirt and his bunker pants. He has yet to shower and change.
His face is still soot covered, except where there are tear-tracks running through the grime on his face. He needs a shave but it seems unimportant at the moment. The emptiness of not having Leslie Shay at his side anymore is slowly coming to the forefront. The shock and numbness are slowly starting to fade.
The deep sadness is soon going to be felt. Kelly doesn't want to start feeling the pain of the loss of his friend. It is a nightmare he wants to wake up from but he already is awake.
He moves forward and just stands looking around the room. Dirty dishes in the sink that have yet to be washed. Testament to the people that live there. Pictures that hang on the wall. One of the beautiful woman that is no longer standing with, Kelly.
The young woman now only a memory; forever having a place in his heart. Kelly takes a deep shuddering breath, trying in vain not to let his emotions show. If he does than the loss of his friend is real. He can no longer pretend that she is still with him.
Unshed tears shine in his eyes as he slowly steps into the apartment. He feels a great loss of his best friend. Always helping each other out. Good times. Bad times. All the in-between times. Her life snuffed out like a flame of a candle blowing in the wind. The light of her life, making it dark for those left behind after her loss.
A black hole of deep grief, that he doesn't even know how to get out of by himself. The thing is, his Family at Fifty-One will be watching his back. Kelly is shaking as he takes another step into the apartment. Looking around. A life no longer lived.
Kelly hears a gasping sound coming from somewhere, not realizing that he is the one making the sound. Tears slowly slip down, Kelly's cheeks. He has to Face reality. Leslie Shay his best friend has died. She was like a sister. She'll never be forgotten.
Kelly turns around; the quietness broken from a sound coming from behind him. He feels someone's arm come around him in comfort. He looks and sees, Matt Casey beside him. He isn't so alone anymore.
Matt pulls his friend toward him, as Kelly buries his face into his friend's chest and begins to sob. Matt embraces his friend in the warm safety of his arms. He'll always have his brother's back. If he wants the help or not. Kelly has helped him in the past. Now it is his turn to be there for him.
Through the tears and sadness that is felt, Kelly is glad for his little brother having his back. Right now he doesn't have the words. None are needed. Matt knows how he feels. Silent tears cascade down Matt's cheeks for the loss of a beautiful young lady and friend and also for Kelly's pain and sorrow.
A dark sad time to stand together. A journey not traveled alone. Everyone standing together at Firehouse Fifty-One.