I love how fearless Severide is on the show like when he dove off that ledge to grab the suicide jumper and save him. Be still my heart… Hope you enjoy.
Severide hit the ground running. He was dropped off at base, some large tents clustered together, a small oasis in a fiery hell, for when the men could go no further without some sleep, some rest. Kelly barely had time to dump some gear, suit up, and load into a copter. He was joining Jim and his unit at a smaller, makeshift camp in the thick of it.
"Kelly Severide. Dammit, you made it here quick." Jim was shaking his hand, patting him on the back. "C'mon...meet my guys."
He pulled Kelly over to a group of men, some sitting on cots, some on the floor...all attacking some military issue meals like it was filet mignon. They were definitely more interested in their MRE's than in this new guy from the city, the windy city.
A few grunts were heard after Jim introduced him...not exactly the warm welcome the lieutenant was expecting.
"Nice to meet everyone," said Kelly as he was led to a cot with a bed roll on top.
"They take a while to warm up," explained his friend as both heard some mutterings of "just don't get in the way" and "he expects to help us" coming from the rough crowd.
"What? Never felt so welcome," joked Kelly wondering what their problem was. What the hell? He was givin' up a lot to be here.
Jim briefed him on this quadrant's activities in trying to slow the wildfires. They'd set up some fire lines with a small level of success. Kelly couldn't wrap his head around the idea of setting a fire, on purpose, to stop a fire. It seemed counter-intuitive and went against every fire fighting bone in his body, but Jim assured him it was one of their best strategies.
The guys had been at it for two and half days straight...all were ready to drop. Eating and sleep their main priorities. They hit their bed rolls hard, everyone out of it before 9:00. Everyone except Severide. The lieutenant knew that tomorrow would hold new experiences, way out of his comfort zone, but he was ready. Ready to prove that he had the right stuff, that he could be a part of this unit.
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Shay was also having a sleepless night. Her thoughts on the man missing from her apartment, the one she'd given the silent treatment to for the week leading up to his departure. Regret filling her heart, nagging at her brain, and causing sleep to be an elusive dream.
Why did I act like I was four, she thought over and over. I am crazy. My best friend leaves and I punish him. He leaves for something that's dangerous, that has no guarantee of coming back and I act like he's doing something to me.
Shay felt a panic rising in her, a panic that she had to talk to Kelly right then. Yes, irrational, she knew, but there nonetheless.
She dialed his number. No answer. His voicemail. His voice. She could see his face while listening to that voice...picture his eyes, that smile. The panic rose in her, and she left a teary, message.
"Kelly, it's me. I'm sorry I was such a bitch. I don't know what's wrong with me. Well, obviously, something. Ha, ha. Um, I miss you already. Please be careful. I want to talk to you, so call me when you can. I know you're busy, not sittin' around playing cards, like here. That's a joke. Um, so call…" Disconnected.
"Shit." She called back to finish the message.
"I don't know what happened, but, uh, call me when you get this. Or when you can talk. I miss you. I think I already said that. Anyways, just be safe and call me. Okay? Okay. Goodnight."
Oh my God, I'm an idiot. A fucking idiot. Shay rolled over pushing her head deeper in her pillow wishing she could just close her eyes and sleep. And not think. And not worry.
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Jim's Hotshot unit was ready to head out at 6:00 the next morning. Kelly was more than ready, eager to attack the fire monster who'd burned how many acres? How many houses? Adrenaline coursing through his body, Severide hadn't felt this alive in years. There was always a rush at a fire, an accident, really any run. But this? This was different. It was the unknown...the thrill of learning something new, of accepting a new challenge.
Kelly knew everyone at 51 thought he was doing something selfless…helping out a friend, trying to save the houses of strangers. He knew the truth. Part of this journey was for himself.
"You ready for the jungle, city boy?" teased Jim checking out Severide's gear, making sure he had everything he would need.
"Hell yeah."
They were dropped off even closer to the most vicious flames. Their goal for the next 48 hours was to tame these ribbons of blaze and render them defeated. It may have been a lofty goal...most of the men would be happy with this offshoot of the fire to back away a few feet in retreat.
Kelly would be happy with just keeping up with Jim at the moment. Running full speed, jumping over fallen limbs, hell, it was like fightin' a fire in an obstacle course. They were in a race to reach the perfect patch of field, clear of trees, and waiting to be lit. This was where they would set up the fire line. Severide felt like an arsonist as he joined the men in setting up a quick flash fire that would hopefully meet the wildfire head on and push that bitch back.
They worked as a team and Kelly couldn't help but think of his guys at 51. All the years of working together, bonding together...it formed a group of men who could almost read each other's thoughts. They were in perfect sync just like this collection of Hotshots. And he was proud to say he was part of it...part of them.
The fire line worked, giving Kelly a close up look at what Jim had described. By the time they made it back to camp, all were battered, bruised, hungry, but almost too tired to eat. Kelly was sore in places he didn't even think had muscle, the day's events pushing all the men to the limit. It was the best day he'd had in a long, long time.
He felt his phone vibrate again...he'd ignored it twice, trying to nod off, come down from the high he was on. He peeked at it. 10:00. Shay.
"Hello," he whispered.
"Kelly, is that you? Why are you talking like that? Are you hurt?"
"Nah, everything's good," he whispered a little louder. "Just don't want to wake the guys."
"Shut up, already!" came a loud call from one of the men trying to sleep.
"It's ten! You're already in bed? Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yes. Gotta go. I'll call you tomorrow."
"Did you get my message? I'm really sorry, Kel. Tell me we're alright."
"Shay, we're good. I promise. And I'll call you tomorrow. I promise."
"Jesus! I'm gonna break a fireman! Shut up!" came another yell from a grumpy and tired Hotshot.
"Love you too. Goodnight." Kelly hung up before Shay had a chance to respond. Well, that did a lot to win over the guys. Screw 'em. He turned over, toward a wall, trying not to think of a worried blonde...trying not to miss her.
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Kelly kept his promise and called Shay before heading out for the day's mission...dig some trenches and put out some smaller outshoots of the larger, mama wildfire.
"We're good. Always. Yes, I know you're sorry. You got nothin' to be sorry about though. It's okay."
All the guys figured the new fireman was on the phone with his wife. She didn't seem too happy with his decision to hang with the Hotshots in Colorado. Go home, they thought. Jim had been singing the lieutenant's praises for a week leading up to his appearance. All they'd seen so far was a guy in good shape who could keep up with them. Big deal.
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Shay walked in to 51 and everyone could breathe a sigh of relief. She had a goofy smile on her face. She'd obviously talked to Kelly.
"I take it all is well in Colorado? Severide's already found some female firefighter to keep him warm at night?" asked Mouch not getting up from his couch or really even looking at the blonde paramedic.
"All is well in Colorado. I talked to him last night." Shay headed to the ambo to brief Dawson.
"Hold up," said Casey one step behind her. "How's he doing? Did he say what it's like?"
"He was in bed already. It was only ten. He called me the next morning and sounded good. Just busy. He didn't give me any details. You should call him."
"I don't want to bother him. I'm sure they are hitting it hard. I don't want him worrying about anything here."
"Call him. Just make it early." Shay pat Casey on the arm and hopped in the back of the ambulance. Gabby was restocking supplies, keeping their bus immaculate.
"Well either you got lucky or you talked to Severide last night," Dawson joked. "So it's all good?"
"Yeah, we're good."
"I hate to be a know it all, but I told you so." Gabby smiled at her friend stopping her work.
"You love being a know it all," laughed Shay. "But I'm glad you were right."
Casey texted Kelly. Call me. Checking up on you.
The shift was a tense one for truck's lieutenant. Waiting for a call, checking your phone constantly, imagining you felt a vibration...not the best way to fill hours of no runs, just sitting around.
"Otis, Cruz, go fill up the truck. Wash her while you're out...she looks like shit."
"You channelin' Severide, now?" asked Hermann from a side table where he was reading the newspaper.
"Those bathrooms could use a good cleaning too. You up for that?" asked Casey.
"Don't get your panties in a wad. He'll be back before we know it," answered Hermann not making one move outta that seat he had himself planted in.
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The digging of the trenches was not what you'd call easy work. Kelly could see why ditch digging wasn't the most desirable job on the planet.
He went at it like he was a candidate of this badass group of firefighters. They took notice for the first time. A few even tried to make conversation.
"Okay, these look good," said Jim. "Now, we're gonna push in a little."
Groans and protests could be heard throughout, the guys sore from head to toe. Despite the bitchin' and whinin', they still had it in them. When you're making progress, it's a hell of a lot easier to keep on going.
As they plowed forward, fighting thicker smoke, the men moved slower and slower. The fires were getting larger and couldn't be put out with a shovel and dirt. Reaching a standstill, Jim called out, "Head back! Pick up's at the trenches."
The Hotshots double timed it to the site they just dug up. Kelly was on Jim's heels and heard a loud anguished cry to his right. Instinct kicked in and he was on a young kid in seconds. The 21-year-old was the youngest in their unit, from Colorado, but had already been around the country fighting wildfire after wildfire. Right now, he was going nowhere. His leg wrestled with a fallen branch and the branch had won. He was writhing in pain, ankle already blowing up to twice it's size. On first inspection, Severide knew something was broken or several somethings. The foot was wedged between the branch and the ground, twisted in a way that screamed pain.
"Cody, right?" Kelly asked. The injured man nodded. "This is gonna hurt like hell, but we'll get you outta here. Suck it up, you got this."
He looked up and Jim was beside him. He'd sent most of the guys on, but JIm and two others remained with Kelly and the fallen young man.
Severide gently freed Cody's leg and wrapped a handkerchief around it as tightly as he could with the young Hotshot calling out in pain.
Kelly felt a heat on his back and knew the blazes were inching in...fast. He threw Cody over his shoulder and took off, Jim leading the way. No words between them. He hauled ass like he had a million times before. This time there was no "just make it outside." This was a never ending outside. Jim zigged and zagged, yelling at his guys to hurry up.
There was no time for a handoff of Cody, there was time to make it back to the trenches, maybe. Jesus, what did this guy eat for breakfast, Kelly thought fifteen minutes in. He kept going...that was all he knew how to do. Legs keep moving, he willed. Fire on your back, nipping at your heels is a hell of a motivator.
Jim jumped over the trenches and outstretched his hands. Kelly flung Cody over, then jumped himself. Those ditches did their trick. The fire was held back. Severide let himself fall flat on his back, sucking in air, feelin' more like Mouch than himself.
"Get up! I don't think these are gonna hold. We've got a pick up," yelled Jim running toward a grassy patch up ahead.
Kelly picked himself up, two guys offering a hand each and ran to the field, now holding a helicopter. He jumped in and had two bottles of water offered to him simultaneously. He grabbed them both, gulping down one then the other.
Cody was firmly entrenched on Team Severide, extolling the lieutenant's virtues, talking about flames on their backs, smoke so thick you couldn't see an inch in front of you.
Damn 21-year-old drama queen, thought Kelly smiling at the embellished tale the young 'un was telling.
Things went from polar vortex to warm and fuzzy that day. He would never admit it, but Kelly needed that. He needed people to care about and whether he liked it or not, to care about him.
Back at base, the new reports did not look good. The bitch was gaining on them. Despite hundreds of men, planes throwing fire retardant every hour...despite everything, she was eating up additional hundreds of acres.
Kelly hit his bunk feeling defeated even with the save. He heard the buzz of his phone underneath, ignoring it...too tired and sore to make a reach for it. The thing kept on and with each buzz he thought of the worried look on his roommate's face.
"Aaaahhh," he groaned, reluctantly feeling underneath his bunk for the offending device.
"Yeah," he said not even looking to confirm it was his best friend.
"Hey," said Casey.
"Hey," replied Kelly sitting up on his bunk now. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's good. Just checkin' up on you. Shay said things were intense."
"It is unreal. This thing just won't die. With a house, we know there's an end in sight. With this...I don't know."
"Well, they're lucky to have you. We got Whaley again as your fill in and, uh, Shay is makin' everything 20 degrees cooler for him."
Kelly laughed a little too loudly, but none of the guys protested.
"Damn, I wouldn't wanna be Eric."
"Shay's worried. So I can tell her you're good? All in one piece?" asked Matt.
"Yep, nothin's missing yet." Kelly hesitated. "Hey, I know I was supposed to come back end of next week, but I don't think I can bail. I'm gonna talk to Boden tomorrow, see if he can get me another couple 'o weeks."
"And you're telling me this because you want Shay to turn her attention to me. No way. You're gonna break it to her."
Kelly laughed again. "I got it. I'll tell her after Boden."
"You sure about this? We all miss you, buddy." Casey wanted to tell him to get the heck back to 51. "Take care, okay?"
"You too. And take care of Shay. She's gonna hate me again. But I'll be back before she can put Eric in his grave."
"You better," said Casey reluctantly getting off the phone. Maybe the extra leave won't be approved. More importantly, maybe I won't run into Leslie Shay and all her damn questions.
Before Matt stepped into the main room, Shay was there in front of him.
"Did you talk to him? Why isn't he calling back?" She was a bundle of nerves again. Shay was used to talking to Kelly constantly, at home, at work. They were each other's sounding board...the one constant in each other's lives.
"Yes I talked to him. Yes he's fine." Matt looked down wishing he was anywhere but there...burning building, accident scene...all sounded better than facing the icy glare of a certain blonde.
"You're not telling me something. I can tell. Spill it. Now, Casey."