Title: Role Reversal
Chapter 2 – Light becomes Darkness

A/N: We want to really extend a special THANK YOU to everyone so far who has read and is enjoying this story. So hope you all like this angsty little update.


"Squad…Lieutenant?"

"Yeah Jason, why?" Matt inquired.

"Because…Jason Street is a druggie…he is…was Kelly's main…his…main…" she said looking at Matt with a blank stare.

"Jason a druggie?" Matt laughed. "With his dad in law enforcement and his mother as well? He looks too clean cut to be…well look at him," Matt smiled as he pointing over his shoulder to inside 51 where Boden and Jason Street stood talking. "Who's Kelly? His main…what?"

Erin turned and stared at a man who had a small resemblance to Kelly. "Oh my god…this…this is not possible!" She uttered in horror as Matt looked at her in wonder. "This…this can't be…"

"What? Erin, what's going on?" Matt pressed.

"Skyler…he did this…he did this to get back at Kelly," Erin said angrily. "This is all his doing. The whole…what if scenario…he wanted to show me…damn…"

"Wait...hold on who did what? What are you talking about? Jason has been at 51 for years," Matt stated calmly.

"No he hasn't!"

"What's wrong?" Matt asked in confusion.

"Wrong?" Erin asked in frustration. "Jason Street has reversed roles with Kelly…either he did it or Skyler did it but it's no longer ha ha funny!" she fumed as she turned to go and talk to Jason Street. "Street!"

"Hey Erin…what brings CPD here?"

She just stared at him in utter shock and confusion. "Where's Kelly? He's around here right? Laughing at all this right now? All a big joke?"

"Kelly…who? Uh not sure what's going on but…hey I like jokes. What's the punchline?"

Erin felt her world start to implode as she just shook her head and offered him a small glare. "Fine…I'll find him on my own and then…there will be hell to pay when I do."

"Poor SOB," Street snickered as Erin turned to leave, marching right past Matt until he hurried after her.

"Hey hold on a sec…this Kelly guy…does he live around here? Maybe Gabby and I can help you find him," he offered.

"No I just…I'll find him…" she muttered as she turned to leave but then paused once more as Matt called out to her.

"If you need help…lemme know!"

"Okay."

This is a joke right? A GREAT BIG JOKE! More like a nightmare! Her mind inwardly yelled as she got back in her car and stared at the entrance to Firehouse 51 for a few seconds as she watched Street interact with the members of 51 like he had been there his whole life. "When I find Kelly…he's dead."

XXXXXXXX

"Where the hell have you been?" Jay questioned as she made it to the top of the stairs.

"Went to find Kelly to put an end to this madness but okay fine…I'll just play along like I'm the idiot and everyone can have a laugh at my expense!"

"Who's Kelly? What laugh?" Jay asked as she headed for her desk.

"I just…I need a moment okay," Erin huffed as Voight marched out of his office with a determined look.

"10th and Parker. Girl in the dumpster…same old thing," he said turning to leave.

"Same old thing?" Erin asked softly.

"Yeah some chick who couldn't take care of herself. We see it all the time," Voight sighed as he left them.

"Why so insensitive?" Erin asked softly.

"Different from when?" Jay countered. "Ready?"

"Yeah…" she huffed as she glanced back at Mouse. As soon as I'm back I'll get him to trace Kelly's phone and then I'm going to put an end to all this!

XXXXXXXX

"So who is Kelly anyways?" Jay asked as they headed for the outside.

"A friend," Erin mumbled. "At least I thought so."

"Meet him at the club? How come I haven't seen him hanging around you?"

"I met him…never mind…now it seems like I never met him," Erin offered with a chip to her tone as she got into the car and then stared miserably out the window. Just concentrate on the case until you are back and then ask Mouse to find Kelly and be done with this lame charade!

"So the Parker case," Erin said opening the file.

"Probably some freeloader," Jay mumbled.

"Jay you never come down on single moms like that before," Erin commented. "Are you okay?"

"Ask yourself that. I haven't changed!" Jay snapped angrily.

"I haven't changed either…I…I am just tired."

"Yeah you are. Normally you'd be all up in Voight's face. GGYou are usually swearing at the top of your lungs. Like I said…you changed."

"I guess I have," Erin offered weakly.

"Over this guy Kelly? Must be a good influence for you to just walk away from a fight of any kind. Where does he live?"

"Yeah he's uh…I don't know." Erin pondered as they pulled up to their new case crime scene. I can't tell him that I called his landlord and the man said the apartment was vacant and they never heard of him! This is going too far!

She watched Jay get out of the car and head for the two officers that had marked it off with yellow tape. "If this is an alternate universe where's Kelly? Is he dead? Is that my punishment for not believing in him?" Erin asked herself miserably. "Hell couldn't be much worse. Especially if I have to spend the rest of my life without him," she said slowly getting out of the car and walking up to the small gathering of men.

The rest of the morning and early part of the afternoon passed by with depressing slowness as she worked on the case; anything to keep her mind busy and not checking her phone every few minutes. Jay didn't seem to care and spent most of his wasted hours trying to arrange a date with one of the cute police officers. Finally it was time to head back and Erin couldn't be happier; she just needed to find Kelly and be done with it.

"Hey I need a favor…a personal favor…and not case related," she told Mouse in a low tone as they both heard Voight yelling at someone who was out of their view. "Why is Voight always so angry?" Erin asked softly, not wanting anyone to overhear.

"Well you know the story…eight years ago he was up for Sargent and didn't take it. I mean if it wasn't for a few bribes and…well he made Lieutenant because of those guys he…"

"Bribes?" Erin asked with an arched brow.

"Right…favors…" Mouse continued. "Well every once and a while he regrets the choice and…and lets everyone know…I mean you have been the victim of…"

"The wrong choice…seems like I have," Erin pondered. "Like that junkie…"

"What junkie?"

"Oh just this case that…nearly got thrown by the wayside…it doesn't matter," Erin said with a heavy sigh. "I think I need to go home and sleep or something."

"I thought you were working tonight?" Mouse asked in a soft tone.

"I uh…I can't," she replied with a heavy sigh as Voight left his office and marched up to them.

"File this. Case closed…on to the next," he stated gruffly as he shoved the file in her hands and continued past.

"Sure…this is…" she said opening the file. "The Skyler case? And they…it's been dismissed?" She gasped. "What the hell? We still had a lead. We haven't found Rex yet! I'll kill him."

"Who?" Mouse asked.

"Nolan Skyler of course. He's some…"

"Erin I don't think threatening to kill the chief of police is a good idea."

"Chief? No, he's just a detective," Erin mumbled in shock. "He…Kelly thought he was dirty and…who was their lead…a junkie? Well at least this hasn't changed and it…it was thrown out? But Rogers was guilty? Wait…Rex was the key witness for the defense?"

"Well they found nothing to convict him and you know Voight wouldn't take the word of a junkie over his boss. They sided with Skyler. Didn't even investigate further," Mouse continued.

"I don't believe this! I need to find Kelly," she said quickly stuffing the case file into her large purse.

"Well if you need some help finding your friend…uh Kelly…I'd like to help if I can. It seems very important to you to find him and I don't mind."

"Yes that's exactly what I need. Kelly Severide. or even a Benny Severide. I need a number and…and whatever else you can find."

"Okay," Mouse said as Erin looked at him determinedly. "Oh…right now? I have to compile something for the upper Brass. Top priority. They'll know if…can it wait a few more hours?"

As much as she wanted to know now…she didn't want the only person who could actually help her find Kelly to get in trouble and then her way would be shut. "Yes…just let me know as soon as you can."

"Okay."

Erin headed towards the exit, her mood dropping deeper into despair with each step she took. "Kelly where are you?" She asked in a soft whisper.

She walked past an angry Voight and a necking Atwater and wondered what kind of hell she had accidentally landed in. "Skyler…chief of police? Halstead on the take?" She asked, getting into her car. "How can this be?" She drove back to her apartment in stony silence, let herself in and slumped down on a nearby chair. She stared miserably at the clock and watched the second hand tick by with tormented slowness. Finally after the sun had set and she felt her anger starting to get the best of her she knew it was time for a ride.

"I need a drink," she mumbled to herself as she drove numbly into the heart of Chicago. No you don't…don't you dare walk down that path again! No matter this hell you made the choice to leave that world and it was the right choice. Don't give up! She reached for her purse and let her hands rest on something small and smooth. She picked up the small matchbook and frowned at the name on the outside.

"Blue Banana…" Erin read to herself. "Don't tell me," she said angrily as she slammed on the breaks and made a sharp right turn. "I'll bet anything Kelly is there right now having a drink and laughing his ass off at my expense. Time to put an end to this nonsense," Erin said angrily. "Damn him!" She cursed as she brought her car to a screeching halt in the back parking lot of the strip club. She opened the door and was about to take a step when she was greeted by a rather large gruff looking man.

"What?" Erin asked suddenly.

"Calm yourself Lindsay," the man said lighting his cigar. "I know you're not workin' tonight. Got your message."

"Right," she said trying to move past the man.

"So when uh…" he said taking her by the arm to stop her. "When are we going to…you know have our own private show?"

"When hell freezes over," she said jerking her arm free.

The large man just let out a hearty laugh as Erin quickly brushed past him and rushed for the door and hurried inside. She let her eyes adjust to the dimly lit surroundings before taking a step towards an opening into the main area of the club. The music was loud, the cigarette smoke thick and the only thing louder than the sound of the platform heels on the stage was the lewd calls from the men in the audience, yelling for more. Erin peered around the corner and started to slowly scan the audience. She noticed in the corner Voight, Olinsky and Skyler sitting at a table discussing what looked like a case file. She watched in utter shock as Voight pulled out some money and handed a little to Olinsky and a little to Skyler.

"Not possible," she uttered in shock. But as much as she wanted to confront the deal she knew she had to find Kelly. "Where are you Kelly?" She asked in growing panic. She continued to scan the audience when she felt a soft tap on the back of her shoulder.

"Thought you were off tonight honey?" One of the female entertainers asked in a low sultry voice.

"I need to find someone," Erin said turning back to the audience.

"Don't we all," the scantily clad woman laughed as she turned and headed for a door marked stage.

Erin turned her attention to the stage and cringed as she watched the show. "I would never…" she started and then stopped. "But if I made the wrong choice and…did we all make the wrong choice? What world am I in?" HELL!

After a few more minutes she turned to see Voight, Olinksky and Skyler get up one at a time and leave the club. She waited as long as she could before she knew it would be pointless to linger any further and then turned and headed for the back door. It was late and she was tired. But should she give up? She called Kelly's home and cell number one more time. To her dismay, each time she dialed, his cell phone came back with the rather annoying infamous "this customer is no longer in service" message. It was time to leave.

She fumbled for her keys and headed for the back door. She took in a few deep breaths of cool night air, determined to try to calm her ever fraying nerves. But as she took another step she heard angry shouting, followed by some glass breaking and then swearing. She turned to see two men continuing on what looked like a rather heated discussion.

"I said get the hell away from here!" The larger man shouted to the one trying to get up off his knees.

"Please…just a little food…" the smaller man begged sadly.

"Get lost junkie!"

"Not my fight," Erin commented to herself as she got into her truck and turned it on. The two men reacted immediately when they saw her headlights come on. The bouncer once again shoved the other man to the ground and then headed back into the club. Erin thought the fallen man had gotten out of the way and so started, very slowly, towards the parking entrance of the club. But as she was about to step on the gas she slammed on the breaks as she noticed the other man stand up and connect oddly with the front of her dark sedan.

"Damn it!" She cursed as she put the truck into park and went to get out. "Why don't you look where you're going?" Erin started into an angry yell. Normally she wouldn't lose her temper so, but after the day's events she was forced to endure, someone had to bear the brunt. But it was the wrong someone.

"Sorry," the man said softly as he staggered to get up. "I'm not high…I just need fo…"

"Get lost already or he'll call the cops," Erin said in exasperation.

"Okay," the man said turning to face her. He started to straighten up and Erin felt her heart starting to beat slightly faster.

"I didn't think…you…you'd come…that fast…" the man said now facing her square on.

"I uh…" she said feeling her world come to a slamming but dead halt. "I uh…oh my god…" she said staring at the disheveled appearance of the still handsome man before her. "Kelly? Kelly! What is going on? Why are you doing this to me!"

"What? I…do you know me?" He asked in a weak but firmer tone as he tried to straighten up. He winced as he wrapped an arm around his chest, tightly holding his bruised ribs as she tried to help him straighten up. "I don't know you."

"I uh…" Erin continued her useless struggle with words as her eyes started to water. She started to reach out a hand and then stopped. Her head started to shake no and her hands started to tremble as she whispered, "not possible," into the cold night air. "Kelly? Is this really you?"

"Lady…do you know me?" He asked again in a soft tone as she took a step closer.

"I…I do…" she admitted as a lump caught in her throat and she tried to keep a brave face on. "Kelly? What…is going on? Please tell me. Just some joke to realize what happens when we make the wrong choices? I get it fine…but it has to end now."

"How do you know my name?" Kelly asked in surprise.

"What do you mean? Course I know your name! I know you! What happened to you tonight?" Erin asked in a painful whisper. "Kelly…I…" she said reaching out her hand to touch him. "Why are you doing this?" She hissed sadly. "What is going on? Why are you like this? Did you and Jason plan this? Why?"

"Who's Jason? I just need something to eat," he said sadly.

"Kelly I…" Erin started only to be interrupted by an angry voice.

"HEY!" Shouted a loud angry voice from the doorway of the club. "You no good junkie! Get the hell away from my girl!"

"Gotta…go. Can't afford jail."

"No…wait! Kelly!"

Erin watched in horror as Kelly turned on his heel and darted away into a dark, dense wooded area and was gone. She locked eyes with him for a few tormented seconds before he was gone and the haunted image of his expression was forever burned into her memory long after his warm breath had died in the cold night air. She tried to run after him but lost him in the darkness and had to head back to her car in defeat; hoping that Mouse could find him and fast.

"Kelly!" Erin shouted in regret. "Come…back…" she said as vision started to blur and she inwardly cursed herself. "Kelly…" she whispered sadly as she started to slowly sag against the side of the car; her eyes fixed on the dark wooded area that she feared would forever hold captive the one person in the world she truly loved. Now lost to her…probably forever…

"Kelly…" she whispered in agony. "Where are you? What have I done?"


A/N: So more angst but you know we like that right? bending the literary rules and taking chances! Is your mind bent yet? Hehe Still with me? Want to see what happens when Erin finally finds Kelly and talks to him? Think they are safe? Or does someone else know what's really going on? Please review and let us know and thanks again!