Disclaimer-NBC owns Chicago Fire, Not Me. But I love imaging stories for the members of Firehouse 51.
The door was locked. It wasn't the first time. It was never her fault. It was the bus from her practice being late. A matter of bad timing and she was stuck in the cold. Not tonight. No dusty cold dark garage. No fear of spiders, or congestion from the cold. No moldy tattered sleeping bag. She walked next door to Mrs. Collins, their kindly old lady next door, and asked to use her phone.
What Sam had told Kelly made his vision go white. No kid deserved that. The city was under a wind chill advisory, for god's sake! The Anderson boys were safe and warm, and they expected Sam to sleep in a cold garage. They had to be kidding!
"I'm coming to get you, Sam. Stay inside with her until I get there"
"Is Sam okay?" Shay questioned. She had seen the look on his face when Kelly had been talking to Sam. That look promised pain. She had seen it before, on her behalf.
"She will be. Okay if she stays the night?" He questioned.
"Of course."
Like she'd give any other answer.
Kelly came and got her, and they headed to a supermarket a block or so away from Shay and Kelly's shared apartment.
Kelly picked out a few things for breakfast the next morning and they picked up dinner from the attached deli: Panini's for Kelly and Sam, Italian and Cuban respectively
A Muffaletta slice for Shay. They stopped for pints of soup. The flavor of the day, cheddar potato bacon was a favorite of Shay's, and Sam wanted some because it looked and smelled delicious. Kelly made Sam pick dessert- a half dozen monster cookies.
They went home with their loot. Kelly took the grocery bags to the kitchen. From her spot on the couch, Sam sees Shay swipe the deli bag and head toward her.
"So, since there's nothing on tonight, I was thinking movie night."
She handed Sam the remote but after a few minutes of browsing, she turned back to Shay.
"I have no idea. You pick something, or we'll be here all night"
"Okay, how about a Marvel movie?"
"Johnny loves Iron Man, I've seen both of them," Sam mentioned.
"They have yet to make a good Hulk movie, so Thor it is." Shay commented, then started the movie.
They ate dinner and got through Thor and the first Captain America before Sam could barely keep her eyes open
"Ok, sleepy. Time to find some sleepwear for you. It sucks sleeping in regular clothes"
Shay went to get the laundry basket, she had just done a load, she could find something for the night. Sam looked at the dumped out pile and snached at a T- shirt. It was an older rescue squad shirt of Kelly's.
"Can I just wear this?"
"Sure, Sam." This, from Kelly in a chair nearby, he was going through his phone.
"Now that we have that settled-." Shay threw another shirt at Kelly.
"Fold your stuff. I'm not doing all of it."
"You wound me. Didn't I get dinner?"
Sam giggles, sounding younger than thirteen.
"It's not like you went hunting for the meat or spent hours over a blazing stove, Kelly" she quips.
"You just picked up sandwiches from a deli"
"Aw, not you too. Okay, okay"
The couch pulls out into a bed. They have extra sheets and a pillow. It's not the worst place she's slept. It feels better than most. Maybe she really is wanted here. The apartment settles, warm dark in a cold night, and Sam sleeps easy.
The next day, Kelly drives her back to the Andersons. He goes with her, wanting to stop any conflicts or anger.
But the house is still quiet. Worse still, there are no cars. They left.
Once again, they've completely ignored their responsibilities toward Sam.
"Come on, Sam. I'm calling Jodie again. You'll stay with us for the weekend"
As they walked into the apartment, Sam went for the couch, while kelly went for Jodie's phone number and to call her in private.
Shay walked in from the kitchen.
"They weren't there, were they?"
"No. I don't what's going to happen next. I mean, Kelly said I could stay for the weekend, but after? I dunno."
"Well, If you're staying the next few days… We need to go shopping. All your things are at the Anderson's. Get you actual pajamas, more clothes, bath stuff-"
"No! No, no, no!" Sam objected violently.
"I don't need anything! I-I'll get along fine with the borrowed sleepwear."
This is what Kelly walked into when he finished talking to Jodie. Sam turned to him.
"Kelly, please. Please. Talk some sense into her. It's only two days."
Kelly knew this particular look on Shay.
There was no stopping her.
And it was in Sam's favor.
Why would he?
Sam realized she'd get no help.
"Oh, come on."
Sam managed to talk Shay into going to a supercenter store a few miles away.
She tried not to stay by any one thing, but with Shay's gentle prodding, She picked some clothing.
Two long sleeved shirts, a pair of jeans, socks, underwear. Soft pajama pants and a T- shirt to sleep in. Shampoo and body wash- Tree Tea and mint and almond honey milk, a bath sponge. Toothbrush and hairbrush. Fluffy socks to wear with her PJ's. A few treats- french vanilla hot cocoa and Oreos.
The hoodie was the last splurge. Sam had stopped by them, just looking at them, feeling their softness. Shay saw.
" Pick a color."
"I don't need it…" Sam murmured guardedly.
"Pick a color. I can stay here all day."
"Okay, okay" Sam huffed.
Navy blue, big enough to swallow her, but not ridiculously. Maybe a size or three off. Like a blanket that zips, with a hood to block out the world. Perfect.
They finished, drove to a walk-up restaurant, got food and went home.
They continued the Marvel marathon with the Avengers, probably the best movie Sam had ever seen. She slept in comfort that night, feeling safe.
Sunday was spent in more of the same peace and calm. Sam didn't want it to end.
Yes, this chapter is named after the Taylor Swift song. But the cover by Me Vs Gravity is the one that fits this story best.
Next chapter- The Anderson situation goes from bad to worse, Kelly steps up farther in Sam's care and where has Bennie Severide been in all this?