Kelly and Matt sat in Molly's after shift to blow off some steam. The last few shifts had been hard on them and both needed the break from work.

Casey looked around at the quiet since it was early Thursday afternoon and Severide and he were the only people drinking in the bar. Stella was cleaning and stocking the liquor for the late shift.

Matt took a cold drink of beer and watched Severide peel the label from the bottle in front of him. Casey took a drink and said, "So how are things with you and Anna? I haven't seen her around the house lately?"

Severide looked up and took a deep breath, "Yeah I haven't seen her in a few days. She has been staying with one of the nurses from Med. The last time was when I had dinner with Benny."

Casey's brow went up and asked, "Oh, how did dinner with Benny go? Did he say something stupid?"

"Benny didn't get a chance to say anything. Anna took one look at Benny and his date and freaked out. She took off in a taxi and I haven't heard from her since." Severide continued to pretend to concentrate on the label as he thought back to the night Anna left abruptly then continued, "I tried to talk to her but she seems convinced that we don't belong together. I don't know what to do."

Casey looked up unsure of what to say and responded, "Sorry man that is rough."

Severide looked up and shrugged, "I think she thinks I am a younger version of Benny. A playboy who can't settle down. Hell, maybe she is right. "

Casey shook his head and said, "Hell no, you aren't Benny or even a younger version of him. Look at the way you handled your sister versus the way Benny did.

Severide nodded and thought about his sister's dead rapist, "Benny was there for her in the end, before she left Chicago. But I talk to her about once a week and she hasn't heard from him except for a Christmas card sent by his soon to be ex-wife."

Casey asked, "Oh yeah, how was Benny there for her? I don't remember him being around much."

Kelly knew he had said too much about Benny and his sister and shrugged and quickly changed the subject back to Anna. "Maybe I am just meant to be single. Just about every woman I have been serious with has lied to me or I have screwed things up. Both Renee's lied to me, and the I screwed things up with me and Erin, and then there is my ex-wife. I mean look at you except for Beth you've only dated Gabby and Hallie. That is a total of 3 women in 14 years"

Matt took another swig of beer and looked down at the table thoughtfully, "I've just gotten lucky having Gabby after Hallie died. But if Hallie had made it I don't know if we would still be together. I mean she had secrets that I just found out about recently. "

A quizzical look came across Kelly's face wondering what Matt was talking about.

"Look you can't tell Gabby about what I am going to tell you. I was going through some old boxes after Gabby moved back in and found one marked Hallie. I opened it up and found some old letters and thought they may have been stuff her family would want. So I opened up the letters and found a few from a woman doctor Hallie had mentioned in passing as being a co-working. Basically the letter said that she loved Hallie but that they could not continue until she was honest with herself and her family. So basically after Hallie and I broke up she dated a woman. So I think Hallie was gay. So even if we would have stayed together her true feelings would have surfaced again. Hell I was with her on and off for 8 years and could never figure out what was holding us from being married. I just wish she would have been honest instead of wasting our time. I would not have been happy but I would have dealt with it and moved on."

Kelly's mouth dropped open and didn't say anything as Matt continued. "So I am over Hallie but don't want to talk it over with Gabby. It is a done deal and I don't want hours of talking about my feelings. I may tell her eventually but at this point it is really a moot point. "

Kelly said, "Whoa man, I know you and Hallie were on and off. Sorry you had to find out the way you did. But now you're settled down with Dawson and now you are married. "

Shaking his head Matt continued his thought, "My relationship with Gabby isn't perfect and takes work. God, look at how long it took for us to get our act together. And this last year with losing the baby and then Louie has been an up and down roller coaster. Now her father is trying to talk Gabby into letting him stay with us. Honestly I can't stand the guy the way he hurt Gabby and her mom, Matt paused and exhaled. Look my point is that You'll get there. Just maybe Anna needs some space and time to figure things out. And what about Stella? She has been there for you even though you guys ended things after her ex went nuts."

Nodding his head Kelly thought for a minute as he glanced at Stella concentrating on the list that they stock the bar from, "Yeah Anna may need some time I just don't know what to do. I've tried to make her feel welcome in Chicago. As far as Stella goes yeah she is a good friend." However, deep down Severide thought back to his nights with Stella and remembered how incredibly easy things had progressed between them. Since Anna had moved in there had been many nights that she had seem distant, even cold.

Matt saw that Kelly was lost in his thoughts as Stella approached their table and said cheerily. "How are you guys doing tonight?"

Kelly's face brightened up when he saw Stella standing beside him. "Just blowing off some steam."

Stella blushed slightly as she asked, "You guys want a couple more beers?"

Casey shook his head and said, "I am just gonna finish this one and then I have to get going. We are supposed to have dinner with Gabby's father."

Shaking his head Severide replied to Stella as well , "No I have to get going too."

Stella looked a little disappointed that Severide was going to be leaving soon but hid it after a minute. "Ok suit yourself I mean look at this hot bed of party activity." She gestured with her had, looked around and laughed out loud as she flipped her hair and turned and walked away.

Kelly continued their conversation,"Anna and Stellar aren't the point but I am the common denominator. I can't remember the number of women I have been with and then broken it off. Maybe I am just doomed to be a single play boy with no family or steady girl friend."

Casey grinned as he looked at two women who had walked in and were both eyeing Kelly, "Well hell there are worse ways to spend your time." Then Matt looked at Severide and saw that there was no responding grin back from his buddy.

"Ever since Shay died its been like my anchor is gone. She was my second half and understood me because she was so much like me. Then after Shay died I thought Erin was the one and moved on from her and she was great. God this sucks I sound like a teen age girl talking about her feelings." Kelly shook his head and rolled his eyes as he leaned back in the bar stool.

Casey's grin disappeared as he replied thoughtfully, "Kel I am here for you no matter what and so is Gabby. We are your family so don't ever feel like you are alone. I know you took Shay's death as hard as Gabby did.'

Just then two women approached their table giggling softly, "You guys want to share a table with us? This place is kinda dead but this corner is smoking hot" They were both in their mid to late twenties and were eyeing Casey and Severide wantonly.

Casey shook his head without saying a word and pointed to his ring finger. Kelly shook his head too and told the women as he pointed to Stella, "The woman behind the bar is my girlfriend. She is a professional boxer and extremely jealous. She once gave me a black eye for looking at another woman. At that point Stella looked up from the bar and smiled since Severide was looking her way. Immediately the women mumbled something, eyed Stella and quickly headed to the door. Kelly burst out laughing and broke the tension that had been building.

Casey tipped his bottle to finish his beer as he stood, "Look Sev, we have been friends for a long time. From what you've said Benny was never loyal to anyone, not even you when you were a kid. You were there for Shay, me and your sister. Trust me you aren't Benny. If Anna has a problem then she is going to have to open up and talk to you. And if you value the relationship then you will give her space to figure things out. A wise man once told me relationships either work or they don' and that you have go all in. I went all in and it's worked for me. I am a happily married man. So take your own advice and give Anna a chance to figure things out. But don't blame yourself for everything. There may be more going on than you realize with Anna."

Kelly nodded his head and watched Casey walk out the door, "Case you have a good night and thanks for the advice. I am going head home and watch some hockey. See you next shift.' Kelly's eyes followed Casey and then landed on Stella as she lifted her hand to wave good night.

Kelly thought of his dad and the devastated ex-wives and kids that Benny had left when things got hard. He didn't want to be that type of man who skipped out when people needed him. He hadn't liked the emptiness he felt on the job before he met Anna. Even firefighting had become meaningless for a while and that scared him more than any fire he had went running into At that moment, Kelly made a promise to himself, "I am going to make sure I don't end up like Benny."