Title: Role Reversal
Chapter 1 – Careful what you Wish For
Summary: Do you believe in second chances? Would you give one if given the chance? What if it was to the one you loved? What if you ran out of time? (#Lindseride)
A/N: We're back with a new Kelly/Erin centric adventure! This one's a bit darker – eeks! And focused solely on our main pair…with a few of my standard cameo's from 51 and 21 hehe this one is a short little adventure while we prepare for a bigger one and hope everyone is buckled in for the ride! Here we go….
~MFR, thanks for the prodding for this and hope this makes you smile and I did at least a good job; I tried to keep so close to our original outline. You are amazing and a real inspiration to me.~
"Kelly…oh god Kelly…" Erin cried as she held Kelly's dying body in her arms, a piece of crushed paper now stained red at her feet. "Kelly!" Erin yelled into his lifeless expression, her hands red from trying to stop the flow of blood coming from his battered body.
Suddenly his eyelids started to slowly open and he looked up at her with a haunted look. "Erin…" he whispered in a soft hoarse tone. "I believe…in…u…"
"Kelly…shhhh…don't talk," Erin cried, her tears falling onto his bloodstained face and causing grisly trails to appear on his stubbled jaw. "You have to hang on okay…you…you can't leave me…Kelly I…I believe…oh god Kelly I do…" Erin said trying to shake him to keep him awake. "Kelly…please…" she cried.
"Don't… cry," he whispered as he tried to lift his arm to touch her face one last time.
"Kelly you have to hang on," Erin begged in agony. "Kelly…"
"Erin…I…I lov…" he said with one last breath and then…
"NO!" Erin yelled into the cold dark night, drops of rain still blanketing her and the precious life form she held in her arms. "Kelly you can't leave me! I believe…I do…I…" Erin yelled in agony. "How could I have been so blind…why didn't I…Kelly…NO!" Erin yelled once more… "I love you too! You hear me right!"
Suddenly a light shone on her and she froze in place, Kelly's lifeless body still in her arms. "Erin…" a voice called to her as a figure approached. "Erin…." Erin heard her name but kept her watery eyes fixed firmly on Kelly's dead body.
"Erin…"
"No…" she whispered in vain "I….believe…I do…Kelly…please come back to me…Kelly…I believe…"
"Erin…!"
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"You have this all wrong!" Kelly shot back with a groan. "How about being objective like you usually are?" Kelly asked quickly.
"You've been picking at Skyler since CPD arrived on scene yesterday. The fire was put out and AI did their part then it was given to us because the two bodies were deemed not natural causes. We have a witness, who happens to be…"
"A dirty cop?" Kelly retorted in haste.
"A respected detective…" Erin corrected him. "Who's your source? Benny right? He has a soft spot for Street also? You haven't seen as many of these types as I have. Street is telling you what you want to hear."
"He's telling us the truth. You also heard what he said," Kelly replied. "Skyler is dirty."
"With what proof? He said…I saw that guy do it. He nodded to Skyler who happened to be the only one at the end of the hallway but couldn't offer any real proof and now in interrogation he won't fess up to anything," Erin replied with a huff.
"Course he's not going to say it to his face!"
"Skyler has proof it was someone else."
"That he probably planted," Kelly retorted in sarcasm as Erin shot him a dry look.
"Do you honestly expect us to take whatever Jason Street says seriously?" She huffed as they watched Skyler and his partner Burt Rogers question Jason Street from behind the tinted glass. "Why do you want to trust him so badly?"
"How can you judge him so fast?" Kelly countered as the two of them stood inches apart in the small, stuffy room. "You always said you felt bad for those that had a tough life. He had that. Where's his second chance?"
"I tried and then, what did he say? He said wasn't an abused child he had a normal life, a regular upbringing and was forced into that life and then we found out he didn't. He played us then to try to get on our good side and he's playing you now. Just because someone has a poor upbringing doesn't mean they have to resort to something wrong. Does he remind you of someone personal?"
"What? No," Kelly countered in haste as his voice lowered and her dark brows arched.
"I can't believe you'd take his word over one of CPD's top police investigator's," Erin said firmly, her tone a little softer as well.
"Well he didn't try to sweet talk me."
"Really? You bring that up now?" She looked at him with a less than amused expression as he shrugged.
"He was pretty fast to try to divide your team and keep you all away from the scene and…from my advice."
"By what? Being polite?"
"Skyler's crooked. Why do you think he said Voight could be second point on this…after Voight insisted on taking lead," Kelly said looking away from the man in the interrogation room, staring at Kelly through the thick dark glass.
"It was his case first! Voight knew that and stepped back. It made sense for Skyler to stay on point."
"Skyler didn't want us finding out the truth and shutting down whatever he has going on. Boden said that place has been a hot spot for years and it's also seen their fair share of dirty cops."
"Kelly…"
"You asked for advice on this because it's in our area and because we have been to that house a lot more than you have on a variety of calls. I've seen this guy around and I'm telling you, he's not a killer. He's a fall guy. I'm giving you advice. Take it!"
"We only got involved because of my connection to…to Sandy. That was Voight's insistence. Skyler might not have firm proof on him, but he knows Street has motive. He needed the money to keep his addiction going. His dealer even confirmed their meeting later that day. Sandy was undercover and in the wrong place at the wrong time and she said no…and he killed her!"
"He wasn't high when you brought him in and he's not high now! So he made a few bad choices but…" Kelly tried to reason once more.
"But he didn't have to make those choices. He didn't have to turn to drugs. Or murder!"
"Maybe he had no choice!" Kelly retorted. "Sometimes people who don't want to do things do them because they have to!"
"Was he forced them?" Erin asked in disbelief. "He had a choice. He said so! He killed an innocent woman. Someone I promised would be alive after all this was over. She died because I failed Kelly. How do you think that makes me feel?"
"Horrible I know but…but I just don't think he did it."
"You need to stop listening to your father's gossip. Yeah I read the report last year where Skyler shot down one of Benny's Arson claims and in the end Skyler was right and I'm sure Benny was pissed."
"This has nothing to do with it. And Skyler isn't playing to my emotions."
"Again with that? Jealous?" She blurted out before she could take it back; the two of them locked in a heated gaze before they both backed up a bit.
"I'm just saying I think he's a great manipulator."
"I am not being manipulated!"
"Whoa!" Jay Halstead pulled the door to the small room open at the most inopportune moment. "You two still at it?"
"No!" "Yes!"
"Okay so…what's going on?"
"Kelly thinks Street is telling the truth when he says Skyler is our mark."
"What? With what proof?" Jay looked at his partner who shrugged.
"He told me," Kelly confessed.
"When?" Jay pressed.
"Before Skyler hauled him into interrogation. Skyler had a call and Street took the opportunity to tell me. But he won't finger Skyler to his face."
"He only told Kelly because he knew he'd never get his lies past the whole team. He's giving us nothing but Skyler and he has no proof other than his word and that won't hold up on anything," Erin explained. "But this past hour Skyler hasn't gotten much from Street, so it looks like we're back to square one anyways."
"Well if there is no proof then Street will walk and we'll move on to the next real suspect," Jay mused.
"Skyler isn't prodding much because he wants him on his own. This is all for show. With Street out there then he's fair game. Then what?" Kelly asked in a softer tone. "Let him go when Rogers and Skyler knows he's told us the truth? He's a dead man. They'll find his real hideout and take him out."
"He's not telling the truth so he won't be in danger. He has nothing they or us want," Erin said firmly. "The evidence points to Skyler's snitch Donner who fingered Rex and I believe him. He had reason to kill Sandy. Thanks for the help but…but I think we'll have other leads to follow."
"Unbelievable," Kelly muttered as he looked at her in disbelief and then just shook his head as he turned to leave.
He gave her a small frown but then paused before he looked at the glass and then felt his heart sink; the same emotions she felt at the same time as he. Course he was jealous. They had finally made a romantic connection and he had hoped grow into more and had taken the chance to ask her out again, last night for this coming weekend. But that all seemed so distant now and it was further complicated by the fact that Nolan Skyler made a point of singling out Erin as soon as he arrived on the scene, summarily dismissed the CFD and said Voight would be second hand on his case if necessary. Another part was his father and he knew that as much as people faulted Benny's personality flaws, his professional judgement was usually on point.
Erin looked at Kelly with remorse and just hoped and prayed when he left precinct 21 that things would still be okay between them. They had started to grow closer together and she wasn't interested in Skyler in the least. But maybe he did have it in for Benny and figured he'd make Kelly pay for the sins of his father? This can't end soon enough! She inwardly lamented.
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"We're done here," Nolan Skyler stated loudly, having enjoyed the performance he put on, mostly for the benefit of those behind the glass while he bided his time until he got the call that someone else who had crossed him was dealt with – giving him a solid alibi that could be corroborated with the CPD no less. Now it was time to let Jason Street back into the public domain, wait until the cover of dark and finish the job he had started before interrupted by Erin's CI and usher himself into upper office with a few black aces in his crooked pockets.
"I'm not lying," Jason protested. "Can I see another cop? Or that Firefighter? When I came in…he wanted to help me…can I talk to him again?" He asked as he referred to Kelly Severide.
"First off…Kelly Severide is a firefighter….not a cop. So unless you are on fire right now…he's useless," Skyler replied with a touch of sarcasm that forced Kelly to narrow his gaze. "Second…I'm in charge here. Not him. So I don't care what he tried to do. So here's your choice…it's either jail or the gutters. Your pick Jason. See how kind I'm being? Your petty theft isn't enough to waste the ink in my pen. I thought you could help solve a murder but you have given me nothing of use. So…you have about five seconds to consider my generous offer. Home…or a nice cold jail cell," Skyler said smugly as he toyed a bit longer. In reality, he wanted him back on the streets so he could finish the job he started before he was interrupted by the untimely fire that started this whole messy ball on the downward roll.
After a few seconds Jason Street turned his defeated gaze back to the sinister man before him and huffed. "I'll go home I guess."
"Good choice," Skyler agreed proudly and then turned back to the black glass and winked.
XXXXXXXX
"Erin you can't let him go," Kelly protested. "He…it's a setup!"
"Well that's what he wants. You just heard it for yourself," Erin said firmly.
"Jail or the gutters? Course he'd pick the gutters! That's no deal."
"Only you believe this junkie and that's not good enough," she said firmly.
"So what I think is not good enough?" Kelly asked softly. "It doesn't count for anything in this case?"
"Hey buddy, easy," Jay warned. "I heard it too. Skyler asked and he said yes."
"Kelly he wants to go. We can't force him to stay. You want him arrested? Skyler is giving him an out," Erin said firmly.
"Well he would have made a better choice if we made him a good deal…we need to protect him. Where the hell is Voight?"
"A deal? With what? He's given us nothing. Only pointing the finger at the man who arrested him for petty possession which Skyler is willing to just let go with a warning, after hearing that Street can't give us anything good. He told you what he thought you wanted to hear and then tell us. Get the bleeding heart on his side. Now he wants to go because he knows we can see through his lies," Erin started with a heavy sigh.
"Right…what I think doesn't matter."
"Kelly…" Erin started as she watched him disappear outside into the hallway and out of view and looked at Jay in remorse. "Coulda handled that better right?"
"He'll cool down. He's got it in the DNA to help and Street played him," Jay shrugged.
"Do you think Skyler is trying to emotionally manipulate me?" "Erin dared to ask and then was shocked by Jay's silent response. "Great…I'm not letting myself get played by him but we have no proof. We both believe that Skyler's partner Rogers is shady. Skyler is up for Chief…what would be his motive to kill some two bit junkie and jeopardize that?"
"Unless Skyler killed his own undercover man right before he killed Sandy just like we suspect Rogers did with the undercover cop last week Skyler knew Doug's or whatever his name is was on to them and had him killed. Rogers killed his partner. The three of them were handpicked by Skyler. That is kinda convenient. Rex would be a perfect fall guy. Sandy probably showed up thinking she'd get the goods on one of them and Street was probably there for who knows what and saw it all."
"You believe Kelly now?"
"Just playing out his point of view."
"We need to find Rex. We find him and I'm sure we'll have our killer and our case as he'll tell us the whole truth to save his ass," she replied as she headed for the door to go out into the hallway. She spied Kelly's form at the end of the hallway and dared to head toward him; her heart rate picking up the pace with each step. I can't lose him over one lousy case! Not now…not when things were building so beautifully.
XXXXXXXX
"But I'm telling the truth…I know who killed that woman…I just need to talk…to someone…else," the junkie sputtered as he was hoisted from his chair and escorted out of the room; the two of them nearly banging into Kelly who stopped and looked at them with a heavy frown. The young man stopped in front of Kelly and looked at him in anger. "You said you could help me."
"I tried…" Kelly started as Skyler neared Kelly in haste.
"Help? In what way? How could you help him?" Skyler asked in haste as he and Kelly stood inches apart; neither about to back down.
"In any way I could, which is more than you are doing. Why are you in such a hurry to get him outta here? Want to finish what you started?" Kelly countered firmly as Skyler's eyes narrowed and he held Kelly's gaze a few seconds longer.
"Trying to finish what daddy couldn't?" Skyler snickered before he turned and tried to usher a protesting Jason Street toward the front door of Precinct 21.
"You said I was telling the truth and that they'd believe me," Street taking a large gulp, panic filling his slightly watery eyes.
"Sorry. I failed."
"Aww how sweet," Skyler taunted. "Defending the little guy, remind you of you once Severide? Yeah I know all about you and your family. So back off before I cite you for obstruction of justice."
"'cuse me? What the hell does that mean?"
Erin found herself wincing at Skyler's remark but inside she felt they had nothing more to hold Street on and letting him go was their only course of action. The evidence pointed to the hit-man and that is what the team had to pursue now and set the record straight for good.
Kelly balled his fist and made a move to punch Skyler just as Jay rushed in to pull him back. "Let it go," Jay warned as Kelly pulled back with a small frown.
"Voight will be done with his case and when he's back…"
"I'm lead on this, remember? Maybe remind him of that also in case he forgets…in case any of you forget," Skyler interrupted Jay as Erin turned her attention to Jason Street and found herself staring at him in surprise before muttering to herself. "I wonder…" she muttered to herself.
"What!" Jason demanded of Erin. "You wonder what?"
Erin looked at Jason Street and frowned. He had a similar resemblance to Kelly and part of her was finding the eerie semblance disconcerting; right down to the warm sapphire pools that held so much panic. However, this was business. "I'm just wondering what you would have become if your life had turned out differently. What could you have become if given a different life? Made a different choice?"
"Him," the junkie whispered to her, making Erin look at him in surprise. "I would have b-become him," he said again referring to Kelly. "Given the right choices…always wanted to be a firefighter."
Kelly watched, with his mouth tightly drawn, as the young man was shooed toward the door to go out.
"Nice try Severide we'll have another chance at this. But you coming at me? Maybe you'll have another chance at that too. And if that does happen, you'll lose more than some pathetic streetwise," Skyler whispered smugly as he marched up to Street and hauled the junkie through the front door. "Don't worry kid, I'll take you someplace safe."
Kelly turned to Erin and just looked at her with a slight frown.
"One chance," Kelly said softly. "That's all he asked for."
"Well find the evidence with the help of someone on the level. We'll find Rex and then this case will be over."
"He's right," Kelly said making her stop in her tracks. "I believed him."
"Kelly…"
"He's right!" Kelly said loudly. "Given the right choice…the one chance…he could have been me…or vice versa. You didn't even listen, didn't give him that chance. What if it was me!" He said turning on his heel and walking the other way, leaving Erin standing in the middle of the hallway to contemplate what he just told her.
"He just needs a few to cool down," Jay reminded her. "What's the deal with Skyler and Severide anyways?"
"Something with Benny but I don't know more than a few case details. He didn't like him the moment we showed up on the scene but odd that he's directing it at Kelly if he has some beef with Benny," Erin replied with a small frown. "Think he has personal history with Kelly that Kelly isn't telling us."
"Well whatever it is, back to the leads on Rex. We'll get this guy and then Skyler will be gone."
"The sooner the better," she agreed as she watched Jay take his leave and then found herself alone in the hallway. 'What if it was me…' were the morbid words that played over and over again in Erin's mind as she headed back to the Intelligence in a cloud of gloom. "Only a few more hours," she said to herself as she plopped down into her desk chair. "Then Voight will be back and he'll sort out this mess. He can go head to head with Skyler," she mused somberly. Erin wandered over to the window and watched Kelly get into his Mustang and slam the door shut so hard it nearly made her jump. He'll calm down for the next few hours and then you call him later tonight and make amends…
She heard Atwater and Ruzek return and for the next few hours her mind was occupied with work instead of her own personal misery. She could only kick herself inside for letting Kelly go in such heated anger but knew that Jay was right. He'd blow off some steam, talk to Matt and then hopefully calm down in a few hours. She only hoped that he stayed away from Nolan Skyler as the veteran Detective didn't need any further reason to come after him.
But just as she got ready to go, her phone buzzed and she was quick to pull it. 'Dinner? – Nolan.' "Ugh…" she whispered before she promptly texted back that she already had plans.
Erin quickly finished up her paperwork and then headed home. After eating another lukewarm microwave TV dinner she quickly showered and got ready for bed; her mood as low as it could get. She lay down under the covers and looked at a small picture of her and Kelly on her phone; a selfie on their first date; both of them with happy smiles. "No way Kelly," she whispered towards his smiling face. "I wish you could see that…he had his chance, he didn't take it…sorry but I just don't believe…"
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Kelly lay in his bed that same night, staring at a picture of he and Erin on his phone. "Did you let Skyler get to you or did you just not want to listen?" Kelly asked softly to her smiling face. "Why can't you see…given the chance he would be different….I wish there was some way I could make you see that I am right…I wish you could experience that for yourself…I wish you would come to believe me…"
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Erin woke from her sleep with loud crack of thunder and lighting. "Damn," she lightly cursed as she rolled over onto her other side and tried to get back to sleep. "Will this night ever end?" She moaned as she finally drifted back to sleep. Another loud crash woke her once again. She flipped on the light and looked at the picture of her and Kelly and instantly felt her heart sink a bit further. It wasn't that late and her mind was too active from all the agitation between them and she knew that Voight would call them on it the following day if it wasn't cleared up. He hated personal tension from any member on his team and rightly so. "Have to make this right," she whispered to herself as she reached for her phone. But just as she dialed the number the lights went out and she heard a small crash and the call would have to wait. "Kelly…" was all she managed as she dropped the phone in the darkness and then tried to find it and put it back on her dresser. "Maybe I'll just wait till morning and call him and talk to him before the rest of the team comes in. Fix this rift between us," she mumbled as she tried to find her way back to bed in the darkness.
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"What time is it?" Erin groaned as she rolled over and looked at the blinking clock early the next morning. "Damn it!" She cursed as she pushed herself out of bed and rushed into the kitchen. "Storm…now I'm late!" She said rushing back into her bedroom to get ready and head into work. She quickly dressed and headed for the precinct. "I have to talk to Voight and then tell him I have to talk to Kelly before the rest of the team gets in," Erin muttered to herself in haste. "Then Jay and I, we'll just go back over the file and…" she said pulling into the parking lot as she tried Kelly's number once more. "Why won't you pick up…" she huffed as she hurried inside. "Not in service? What the hell…did I misdial?"
"Late as usual huh Lindsay," came a curt remark from behind.
"I uh…what?" Erin asked in shock as she turned around to face a very angry looking Voight. "Late? I'm early. How did the case against Wilson go yesterday?"
"Don't try to change the subject," Voight growled.
"Sorry?" Erin replied in disbelief.
"What the hell do I have to do to make it clear that you are only allowed to be late once a week?" He snapped angrily.
"I said I was sorry," she said firmly. "The storm last night knocked out the power and…" she stammered to get an excuse out.
"I don't want any more excuses! If it happens again I'll dock you pay."
"What?" Erin asked in shock.
"Don't screw with me Lindsay," he said turning on his heel and walking away in a huff. "I'm not in the mood!"
"Okay but I…"
"Later!"
"What is his problem?" Erin muttered to herself.
"Just the usual," came a familiar voice from behind her.
"Adam. Did you find anything more on Rex?"
"Rex?" Adam asked in wonder as he neared a very bewildered Erin. "Who's Rex? New boyfriend?"
"What? No! Rex Reinhold. You and Atwater found a clue in Sandy's case that thought it might be him. Sandy, my CI? Voight said I was too emotional to go after Rex…so he sent…you two?"
"What drugs are you on?" Adam asked with a frown. "And who's Sandy? One of your club friends? Is she hot?"
"Club…friends?" Erin asked slowly. "Hot…what? No…she's…"
"Just…don't bring that into work okay? Voight might go there for his own kicks but the rest of us don't want any part of it!"
"What…are you talking about?"
"Look I know you probably had another rough night but don't let your side job interfere with this one," Adam warned.
"Side job?"
"Just be warned," he said as he walked away.
"Warned? I don't have a side job. What is going on here?" Erin asked turning and heading for the locker room. She neared the entrance and noticed Atwater's back to her, looking like he was leaning in on someone. Making out? Kevin? With who? Upton?. "At least some things are still normal," she smirked to herself.
"Oh sorry," Atwater said pulling away from his lover.
"It's…o…kay…" Erin said slowly as she gazed upon another man, a white male but shorter than Atwater. "I uh…right…carry on," she said turning away and rushing out of the locker room. "Okay I'm in the Twilight Zone," she said rushing for her precinct. "I need to call Kelly."
"Morning Erin," Mouse said from his corner.
Erin gazed upon a very different looking Mouse and then did a double take. "Mouse?" She asked in surprise, eyeing his slicked down hair and black rimmed glasses.
"Hello," he said softly. "What? What's wrong?"
"It's uh…you're here I mean hair…it's so…slick…and…when did you get glasses?"
"Since like grade three," Mouse snided softly. "Like my tie?"
"Sure," Erin said with a slow, weak smile.
"It looks like you could use something to calm your nerves. Rough night again huh."
"What exactly do I do at night that everyone knows about?" Erin practically blurted out.
"Well you uh…" Mouse said looking down. "Erin you're a dancer," he said with a soft whisper.
"A what!"
"A dancer," Mouse said with a small smile.
"Ballet right?"
"Exotic," Mouse replied with a whisper.
"I uh…no…that's not me," Erin insisted. "…and I would never…"
"You needed the money to put yourself through school remember?"
"No! It's not…I…" Erin tried again.
"Erin we all make choices we regret, but now I guess you'll have to just live with it," Mouse shrugged.
"This can't be…Mouse! I need to call Kelly!" Erin demanded in an angry tone.
"Who?" Mouse asked with a frown. "Who's Kelly? Is she…"
"HE … Kelly Severide…"
"Who's he?"
"Never mind I'll just go to 51 clear this up and be back. Tell Jay when you see him I'll be right back!" With that she rushed out of the precinct back down to her car and sped over to Firehouse 51. "You can ignore my calls but you can't ignore me when I'm standing face to face with you," she mused as she stopped her car and hurried toward the front entrance. "Matt!"
"Hey Erin…what's up?"
"I need to see Kelly."
"Who?"
"Okay…I'm so done with the no one knows Kelly Severide routine," she stopped as she looked at Matt's expression. "I just need to see him about the case. He was pissed right? Told you? And now he's like…Matt I know he doesn't play games so I just need to see him. Is he here? I don't see his car. I tried his cell but it's not in service."
"Who's Kelly? What case?" Matt retorted once more. "What are you talking about?"
"He's…he's the squad Lieutenant. Come on Matt…I'm too tired for games."
"What? Well unless Boden hired someone new overnight and fired Street and didn't tell me then…just the regular guys here."
"Wait what…who? Who did you say? Street? Street who?"
"Jason Street. You know…the 51 Squad Lieutenant."
"Did you just say Jason Street?" Erin asked in shock, her heart about to explode as her world crashed to a sudden halt.
A/N: okay so how was it so far? I had this angsty idea in mind for a bit and finally dared to post (b/c hey angst is what we do best with some happy light at the FARRRR end of the tunnel hehe) and I hope you are wanting to see where this goes and how Erin and Kelly's first meeting will be in this odd universe. Please do review before you go b/c we are sooooo nervous you'll all hate this little adventure (yikes) and thanks so much!
