Chapter 3: Out of the mouth of Babes

The night April got shot had scared Ethan more than he could imagine. They hadn't been together in over a year, but when he heard she had been shot… thinking of her almost being killed, something in Ethan become untethered- knowing she was hurt messed him up. The nightmares and PTSD started again, but he could control it. He had to! He had to focus on what he had, because what he wanted had moved on. Or backward, if she and Kelly were any indication. The truth was Ethan missed April. Since she got shot, she seemed to be everywhere else, except with him, even on shift. After their argument a few weeks ago, when he accused her of mistreating patients to get back at him and they kissed, it seemed that Maggie made good on her threat to keep them separated. Now that he thought on it, the kiss seemed more like a 'good-bye', instead of an overwhelming emotional response. And now Emily was back in town, which just reminded him of the family he let go or imploded because of her. Though her presence reminded him of the life he lost, the arrival of his niece Tess brought a needed joy.

Emily arrived back from Vegas to find things much different than when she left. Emily assumed when she left April and Ethan would get back together, because she saw how they looked at each other when they thought no one was looking. But now there was this Vicki woman she didn't know and she didn't know how she felt about her. Ethan told her about her being a doctor and in the Navy, but he wasn't the brother she knew until he was with April. Emily feared he would leave again without April's influence.
"So Ethan...," she asked while changing Tess's diaper, "what happened with April? And who is this Vicki woman?"

Ethan stopped pouring his coffee when she said April's name- he had forgotten that Emily had grown fond of her. "Nothing happened. We're friends," he answered. "And Vicki is an old girlfriend, a doctor at the VA, who I started dating again once she returned from her deployment. " Emily turned up her nose as she cradled the baby. "Don't look like that. You don't even know her! I'm sure you'll love her once you meet her." She scoffed. "I mean you didn't like April at first either."

"Doubtful. But hey, it's your life."

"Thank you."

"Well I'll keep my opinion to myself for now, but I hope you're not settling for what you can get, instead of going for what you want. You deserve the life you want Ethan and I want that for you," she paused.

"Here hold your niece while I use the restroom."

Ethan held Tess and felt himself smile largely at her adorable giggles and grins resulting from him nibbling her fingers she forced in his mouth. Despite her father's genetics, Tess looked just like Emily. She was going to be a beautiful girl, Ethan thought, which meant he was going to need to make sure his arsenal was sufficient. Suddenly she put her hand on his cheek, looking directly at him, and the memory of April flooded his mind.

"Ok I'm ready to go. Let's do this." Emily said damming the flooding memories. He looked confused. Where was she going? Or where did she think they were going?

"Go where?"

She smirked. "We're going to the hospital of course! You have a shift right?" He nodded. "Well I want to see everyone and introduce Tess to her extended family- especially since Bernie and his deadbeat group won't be around." She snapped.

He didn't know how this would go, but if she desired to see everyone, she should. Ethan found himself immediately considering April's response when she is introduced to Tess. She's gonna fall in love as soon as she sees her, he thought. But honestly, he figured it would probably be mutual and he smiled.

Tess was a big hit, as Ethan had predicted. Everyone was kind to Emily and adored baby Tess, especially April. The way Tess held onto April and cooed into her neck, you'd have thought Tess was her daughter. He hadn't seen April smile like that in months, so much love and joy, and this time it actually reached her eyes. The only time the joy was betrayed was when Tess reached for Ethan, while holding onto April. The infant was not content to have only one of them, she wanted both of them together. When Ethan joined his ladies, he instinctively wrapped his arm around April's waist, enclosing their little cocoon of happiness. Emily and Maggie whispered to each other about how cute the little bubble of joy was and of hopes that the adults would finally get their issues resolved. Staring into April's eyes, Ethan could envision the life he could have had, a wife and family he loved and adored. He could swear she saw it too, but then the light in her eyes dulled. And with a turn, the brightness in his eyes dimmed as well- Vicki had arrived. April kissed sweet Tess on her forehead and gave her to Ethan with a sadness on her face and once again his heart ached for causing her pain. Ethan gave her a pitying smile as he turned to introduce Tess and her mother to his girlfriend.

Vicki smiled broadly at Ethan with a baby, although she couldn't ignore the 'family' portrait she originally saw when she came in. Suddenly, a pretty young Asian woman was coiled around Ethan.

"Vicki, I want you to meet my sister Emily and my niece, Tess." Emily was amused by the shock on her face. So Ethan hadn't mentioned her, or she just assumed his sister would never return, but either way Vicki was shocked.

Emily extended her hand. "Nice to meet you Vicki." Vicki took her hand shaking it nervously. And as she extended her hand to touch Tess, a loud wail rang out over the department. Everyone chuckled, but Vicki seemed unnerved.

"Don't worry about it," Maggie stated, "she just needs to get used to you." Vicki smiled weakly.

"Or she doesn't like you." Emily snubbed. Ethan rolled his eyes at his sister and handed Tess to her.

"She doesn't know you yet," he stated to Vicki. And then he turned to Emily, "But she'll be a fast friend once she gets to know Vicki."

Emily nodded, "But of course." Maggie dropped her head and walked away- that tension was too much.

"Vicki, I'm surprised to see you. What are you doing here?" Ethan asked.

"Oh, I was just in the neighborhood checking looking in on a housing possibility for a vet, so I thought I would stop by." Her answer seemed to suffice, but she still felt that she had interrupted a happy moment. "I won't keep you, as I am sure you have to get back to work." He nodded. "So, I'll meet you back at the apartment for dinner? Or will Emily be joining us?"

"No, I'll meet you at the apartment this evening. We found her a rental earlier today."

She smiled and gently touched his arm. "See you then."

"Emergency?"

"Maggie? Hey, its Kelly Severide."

"Hey Kelly, what's up?"

"Is Choi on duty?"

"Yeah, he's with a patient. What do you need?"

"Just tell him I'm on my way to see him. I think we need to talk." He could hear Maggie pause in response to his declaration.

"Severide, don't come into my ED causing mess!"

"NO mess Mags, I promise. Just clarity."

"Ok, I'll tell him to expect you."

Three hours later, Kelly strolls into the ED and runs into a very agitated Ethan Choi. "Kelly what do you want?"

"Hello to you too Choi. I wanted to speak to you about April." The steam just rolled off Ethan's head like crushing waves on a surf.

"April?! You came to talk about April! What about her? You're with her now, so why'd you want to speak with me?"

"Man, how about you stop and take a breath!" Kelly followed Maggie into the doctor's lounge, Ethan on his heels. "First of all, I don't have April," Kelly answered, while Maggie tried to slip out. However, Kelly knew he needed a witness for this to work. "No, Mags, don't leave. Can you stay?" she nodded and handed off her duties.

"What's going on Kelly?" Ethan's anger and fear were noticeable now that Kelly had asked Maggie to stay. "Is April ok? Did you do something?" Kelly had never seen Ethan so angry and Kelly was sure if Maggie's hand wasn't on Ethan's chest, he would be in one hell of a fight.

Kelly looked to Maggie. "Was he this bad the night she got shot?"

"Worse," she answered. She turned to Ethan and guided him back to his chair. "Continue Kelly."

"Like I was trying to say, I don't have April- we're JUST FRIENDS. But between you and me, I probably know her better than you do, and I saw this coming from a mile away." Kelly continued as the concern grew. "She's joined 'doctors without borders'. She leaves next Saturday. She got her shots earlier this week."

The breath in Ethan's lungs seemed to give way and what was once a chest puffed in anger was now deflated in defeat. "'Doctors without borders'. But why?"

"Choi, you'll have to ask her. But I suggest you consider what your life would be like if she wasn't in it, because next week she won't be."

Maggie looked at Kelly, while Ethan stomped away with a clenched fist. "She still loves him doesn't she?"

"Of course she does- more than me or Tate. He's the one, which means April…"

"Runs!" Maggie interrupted. "Yep that's her way."

"She can't take seeing him with that woman moving on, when her dreams for her future die in front of her. So she plans to get some distance and try to salvage her heart."

They both look out into the department pen, as Ethan was leaving. "Well he loves her too, so maybe this will finally move the needle."

"We'll see," Kelly agreed.