sorry it took so long to post chapter two. despite the utter lack of shafferty, i'm still writing this, if anyone is interested. i'm working on my other two shafferty fics too. let me know what you think, ok? this is a short chapter but chapter 3 is already in the works (and will include actual shafferty interaction.) thanks for reading.

2.

Severide turned the doorknob of Shay's hospital room so gently that barely a 'click' was audible, but Rafferty snapped out of her half-asleep daze and shot her head up immediately regardless. She looked obviously startled, but also almost embarrassed. Severide and Dawson noticed and wondered why, but knew better than to ask; neither of them were too close with the generally uptight Rafferty to begin with.

"Sorry, Rafferty. We were trying not to wake you," Severide said softly, approaching the bed with Dawson in tow.

"I wasn't sleeping," Rafferty spat, a lie, and they all knew it.

Rafferty's gaze was suddenly drawn to her hand, still entwined with Shay's. Her self-consciousness was ready to pull her hand away at the first sight of Severide and Dawson, but her worry and emotional upheaval caused her to remain holding on tightly, no matter what the others thought.

"How is she?" Dawson asked quietly, looking over her partner much like Rafferty had.

"Um, I think she's going to be okay..." Rafferty answered, fighting her breaking voice. "They say she's going to be okay. She just needs to wake up," she said sadly.

"Hey," Severide said directly, causing Rafferty's scared brown eyes to look up into his. "Shay's a fighter. You know that. She can do this," he said reassuringly, as though he was talking to Shay's lover, not just her partner.

Rafferty nodded somberly, trying like hell to keep herself from crying. She was beginning to break- again- and although it was okay when it was just her and Shay, it was not okay in front of Severide and Dawson.

"I'm sorry that I didn't call you guys right away," Rafferty nearly choked out, refusing to make eye contact with either of them, leaving her gaze resting on her and Shay's hands. "I... I was just so worried, and the doctor gave me a hard time, and I just didn't even think about it." She was beginning to cry now, despite herself, and Severide and Dawson were moved (and surprised) by the genuine outpouring of emotion from the girl.

"Burgess and Atwater let us know what was happening," Dawson explained gently, feeling guilty for being so careless with Rafferty initially. "They said that you were pretty worried. Almost fought the doctor," she laughed proudly.

Rafferty just nodded, a slight smile finally reaching her face at Gabby's unspoken support. She shook her head softly, trying to rid herself of the paralyzing emotion that had overcome her.

"Sorry, I should let you two have some time with her," Rafferty decided, standing to leave and reluctantly beginning to let go of Shay's hand.

Rafferty's head whipped back around to Shay so quickly that it startled Severide and Dawson. Rafferty was wide-eyed and speechless.

"She squeezed my hand..." Rafferty said in awe, barely audibly. She stared at Shay's face, wondering if the movement was real or simply a figment of her hopeful imagination. Shay's face remained still. "Shay?" Rafferty said quietly, getting no visible reaction, but her hand was squeezed again, letting the paramedic know that it wasn't all in her head. "She did it again!" Rafferty looked up to Severide and Dawson, who were already smiling.

"She doesn't want you to go," Dawson said happily, stepping closer and running her hand through Leslie's hair.

"You really think that's what it means? It could just be a muscular reaction to me pulling my hand away," Rafferty reasoned.

"We know Shay pretty well," Severide smiled, patting Rafferty's shoulder. "It definitely means she wants you to stay."

"I don't want to interrupt your time with her," Rafferty told them out of sheer politeness; she was certainly not going to leave Shay's side now.

"I kind of think we interrupted your time," Severide told her.

"I just want her to wake up," Rafferty sighed, done with pleasantries and banter. The only banter that she wanted was with the woman lying in the hospital bed.

"She will," Dawson assured her. "Probably soon. Kelly and I are going to go tell the doctor that she squeezed your hand- he might want to know that," Dawson kind of lied; it wasn't uncommon for an unconscious person to have a physical reaction before awakening, she just wanted Rafferty to have more time alone with Shay. "Why don't you talk to her while we're gone? Make some gay jokes or something. Make her want to wake up," Gabby smiled before nodding toward the door. Severide rose to join her, aware of the intention.

Rafferty nodded with a smile on her face. 'Make her want to wake up.' Allison was pretty sure she could do that.