A/N: I do not own any of the Chicago Fire, PD or Med characters that show up in my stories… I just like to play with them. I DO own the characters of Katherin, Ken and anyone else that I make up. This one plays fast and loose with the time lines of the seasons… Gabby isn't around and Stella and Severide aren't together.

Warning: Domestic violence mentioned ; rated T for language and future sexual stuff. (may change to M)

A HARD WINTER

Chapter 1

It was November in Chicago, which meant snow on the ground and a bitter chill to the air. Firehouse 51's second watch were almost all at Molly's after a long shift and a very hard call. To an outsider you would think the crew were a bunch of alcoholics with how much they were at the bar, but everyone there knew better. Their job was tough, especially today . So today they needed to drink in the comfort of their home away from home… away from their actual home.

Katherin had walked the streets of Chicago for too long in the cold. Her feet were frozen and so were her hands, even though she had shoved them down into the pockets of her coat as much as she could trying to escape the bitter wind that was whipping around her. It caused her sandy blond hair to get tangled in front of her eyes, and she had almost ran into several people on the street before finally giving up and throwing it into a messy knot. "Damn it why did I leave without grabbing a hair tie?" she muttered to herself, and then remembered . She pulled her hands out of her coat pockets, blowing on them for some short lived relief from the cold and caught a glimpse of her wrist. Yeah, that's why. Her wrist was bruised , the mark of a hand that had wrapped itself around her and pulled hard. That was the one that could be seen, but there were way more hidden. She pulled the too short sleeve of her coat down trying to forget what had just happened , but the tears sprung up in her eyes anyway. She saw a light on the corner indicating a warm place to duck in to, so she did, only stopping for as second to read the name on the sign. "Molly's. Sounds like a place I could hide in for awhile. " she said to herself and pulled open the heavy wood door.

She was wrong. The second she stepped inside everyone turned to look at her, making her second guess being there, almost like she interrupted a very solemn private gathering. That was until the silver haired bartender called and waved her over. "Hey there welcome to Molly's! What can I get you?" he sat a bar napkin in front of a stool and pointed, indicating for her to sit down.

"Um, really I just came to get out of the cold…" she knew her cheeks were red from the wind, she figured her nose looked the same. She also knew she left the house with no wallet. She pulled her jacket off setting it on the stool next to her. "I actually left in a hurry and didn't grab any money. If you don't mind I'll just warm up for a few minutes and be on my way."

Christopher Herrmann looked at her and shook his head. "Nope. It's way too cold for you to be out there . I'll make you a bowl of soup, and just tell Otis here what you want to drink. My treat!" he held up his hand when she started to protest and walked away.

"Scotch please." She smiled at the younger man who stepped into his place. She knew it would warm her faster than any bowl of soup , but she was immensely appreciative of the older man's thoughtfulness. He nodded at her, setting the glass in front of her and throwing out his hand to shake hers.

"Brian Zvonecek . Nice to meet you." He grinned at her. She realized he was waiting for her to shake his hand and she reached out and took it, her eyes darting to the bruise and quickly away.

"Katherin Bend. Otis?" she looked confused.

"My nickname." Like that was an explanation.

"Then call me Kat." She smiled at him, and took a sip from the glass. Yup, there was that burn she was needing . It warmed her up immediately, and she took another one. "Thanks for this. It's brutal out there."

"Yeah, so why is a girl like you wandering the streets of Chicago in winter?" the older man's voice popped back up behind Otis.

"Girl like me?" Kat looked at him eyes squinted .

"Yeah you're what? A buck twenty? You need a thicker coat that that. And no hat or gloves? Where's your momma?" Christopher was showing his fatherly side, prickly as it was.

Kat laughed. "First of all, are you in the habit of serving children? I'm 30 thank you. And second of all, I just ran out of the house without thinking. So… yeah." That sounded like a lame excuse but since these people were strangers she didn't feel like giving the whole story.

The rest of the room was watching and listening. The members of the group that were at the bar moved to be closer so they could get in on the conversation.

"Besides, if I hadn't , then I would have never come into this fine establishment now would I?" she grinned and took another sip of scotch, closing her eyes as it burned it's way down to her stomach. She opened them when she felt a hand on her wrist, and she jerked away.

"What's this?" the older gentleman was nosy, she would give him that . She got the feeling she was in the middle of a family dinner, or something... everyone in the room was watching.

"Nothing, I... fell." Another lame excuse, what the hell?? She thought to herself.

"That's a hand print." Otis piped up, and looked at her wide eyed. "Maybe we should explain, we're firefighters. If you're in trouble…" that's when the rest of the guys at the bar stood up and walked over.

Kat rolled her eyes. Dammit all I wanted was a place to get out of the cold, and I stumble into Little House on the Prairie? "Thanks, really." She got up and started putting her coat back on. "I'm all good. Listen cancel the soup, it was really great meeting you." She downed the rest of the glass and scooted it back towards Otis. She started towards the door when she heard a round of expletives coming from outside . Wide eyed she started looking around for another way out and saw none. "Shit. Okay so new plan. That man that's about to come storming in here? He did this" she pointed to the bruise. "I can't deal with him. Is there a back room?"

"You don't need to hide. He's about to walk in to a room with a bunch of firefighters . If he starts something, we'll end it. " came a voice from someone she hadn't noticed before . He was tall and extremely handsome, standing there in front of her, blue eyes staring. He had salt and pepper hair and she could tell he was strong, the muscles shown through his shirt he had on.

She felt a hand on her arm, and flinched before she realized it was small… a woman's. "Hi, I'm Sylvie Brett, and this is my partner Emily Foster. We're paramedics with these guys, they'll take care of any situation that comes up." The little blond woman led her over to a table "You can sit with us." Sylvie grabbed her coat and pointed to the empty stool.

Kat went to open her mouth again when she heard the door fling open, causing her to jump. Both women patted her hands and one shoved a glass of water in front of her, so she had something to hold on to. Kat silently thanked her and took a sip, trying to steady her shaking hands. She felt his presence before she heard him speak, but she didn't look at him.

"Get up. We're leaving." He said, louder than she would have liked. Kat didn't want these men to have to do anything for her, they had done enough already allowing her to be a small part of whatever club they were in for a few minutes, but she knew if she didn't stop him they would.

"Ken... " She whispered but loud enough for the women to hear her. "You need to go."

"Go? Yeah I'll go, with you." He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her to her feet. Kat yelped and that's when the men intervened .

"Hey pal, you need to leave. She said to go, so just walk away." Christopher walked out from around the bar, baseball bat in hand. They kept it behind the bar on case of any belligerent customers or robbery attempts .

"Oh, so you want her? Be my guest. She's used up anyway." Ken said cruelly and shoved her at the crowd of guys standing there. "Just don't say I didn't warn you. Oh and Kitty Kat… we aren't over til I say we are. " with that remark he stormed out of the bar, slamming the door behind him.

Kat realized she had been holding her breath, and finally let it out. The blue eyed man was holding her up, she didn't even realize before until she became all too aware of his hands on her arms. She straightened and stepped back so she could address the room. "Well, thanks for that. I've wasted enough of your time so I'll just go." She grabbed her jacket and stepped towards the door until she heard a chorus of no's.

"I'm Christopher Herrmann. I own this bar, and you are free to stay as long as you want." The silver haired man crossed to stand in front of her and held out his hand.

"Katherin. Thanks really… I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you all to have to deal with this." She shook his hand and smiled at him, embarrassed.

"Don't be sorry, this is what we do. " He responded. "We help people . So now it's settled and you're staying , I'll get you that soup." He walked off grinning .

Kat shook her head. It didn't seem like he got told no a lot, or if he did he just ignored it. She turned to the other men standing there and waved. "Katherin. Everyone calls me Kat."

They each introduced themselves. Joe Cruz, tall and solid Latino. He had a warm smile. He and Brian/Otis were best friends (She would have to ask about the nickname later) . Capp and Tony, driver and second in command on squad. They were quiet but funny. Then there was their Lieutenant, Kelly Severide, the man with the salt and pepper hair and adorable grin. It was painfully obvious that she had walked in on something when she entered the bar, so she decided to reverse the roles. "So, what did I interrupt here tonight?"

They all mumbled, nothing coherent or understandable until Kelly spoke up. "Bad call. Lost a victim, and that's always rough. "

She nodded like she understood. In reality she had no idea. She had been alone for so long, no parents no family that she didn't really have a clue what it meant to lose someone. This thing with Ken was the closest she had come in a long time to having someone and then having them gone. She placated them, telling them she was sure they did everything they could, and that was what was important. Herrmann brought her the soup he promised and poured her another glass of scotch, and the group talked, while she listened. About an hour later the door opened again, and this time a tall blond haired man entered. Kat went to move, she could tell he was with this group but Kelly put his hand on her arm, urging her to stay.

"Hey Captain. Didn't think you would show."

"Paperwork Severide, I've got a lot more to do since the promotion . You might want to do some too. " He slipped onto the stool next to her glancing her way. "Hi there, Matt Casey." He held out his hand to shake hers. What was with these guys and shaking hands ? They were so polite, it almost made her laugh.

"Kat. Nice to meet you…Captain. " She shook his hand firmly, ignoring the look he was throwing over her shoulder at Kelly.

"Kat here likes scotch. You like scotch too don't you Casey?" Kelly would have to fill him in later on this girl. Matt looked her way again, his eyes running over her… he saw wild hair, and bright blue grey eyes… skin still flush from being outside in the wind and cold… he had no idea it was from the situation earlier, not to mention the scotch.

"Sure do." He waved Herrmann down and asked for a glass. "So, what did I miss?"

Kat shook her head. She could tell would be a long night.