As promised, a fresh new chapter. Let's assume Katie wasn't kidnapped and all is well in 61.


"So, you and Rafferty...getting along well?"

Dawson had just arrived for a quick visit at 61, to meet Casey during her lunch break. She spotted Shay by herself at the rig though, and decided to catch up before going in.

"Yeah. She's cool." – Shay answered, putting her cellphone aside.

She'd been texting back this girl who she met at Molly's the other night. At first she rebuffed the girl's advances (Sarah was her name), because lately she hasn't been in the mood for dating. But then Shay noticed Rafferty's glances (that she interpreted as being judgmental) and decided to give her number away, feeling rather stupid afterwards. She knew nothing would happen between them… she was just trying to prove some kind of ridiculous point. Maybe just to let Rafferty know that she wasn't really her type, because Sarah was the exact opposite of her partner, be it physically or mentally.

Why Shay decided to do it, though, she didn't know. Rafferty hasn't said anything about Shay coming onto her for a long time now. Things between them have been quite good actually. They could be considered practically friends now. They even started talking a lot on their breaks, more and more avoiding the common room and preferring to hang out in the rig together.

That was it. They were getting too close. It'd be okay if it was Dawson. They were like sisters, there was no attraction going on. They just cared for each other, like she cared for Severide.

But with Rafferty, Shay knew it was completely different. She couldn't help but feel drawn towards her, and acting indifferent was getting more complicated by the day. And if she rebuffed Sarah maybe Rafferty would start wondering why Shay wasn't looking, and theories would start to form in her head. The last thing Shay wanted was Rafferty putting her guards up again. She liked natural, easy-going Rafferty.

"No more homophobic comments?" – Insisted Dawson, sitting by Shay's side, on the edge of the rig's entrance.

"Nope." – Shay said, starting to wonder the reason behind this line of questioning.

"Cool." – Dawson said, her facial expression showing otherwise.

"I miss you, obviously." – Shay pointed out, finally understanding why Dawson was so curious about her new partner - "You know that, right?"

Dawson smiled.

"You better."

Eventually Casey showed up, and Shay was left alone by the ambulance.

She looked at the time on her cell. Where the hell is Rafferty? She went to the toilet ages ago.

Maybe she decided to hang out with the boys – Pondered Shay.

It was a plausible idea, even after them gradually being spending more time alone together.

Not wanting to be isolated for a long time, Shay opted to go back to the common room, only to come to the conclusion that Rafferty wasn't there, either.

"Hey, have you seen Rafferty?" – Shay asked Mills, who was sitting in the couch with Mouch, preparing to start a game of cards.

"Yeah. She passed by a long time ago, didn't see her coming back yet though." – he said, shuffling the card's deck.

"Okay, thanks man." – Shay said, deciding to go look for her.

She didn't find her in the bathroom, or in the locker room. She called out for her in the restroom, the last place she could've been, only to hear a faint "Over here."

Shay followed the voice and found Rafferty lying on top of one of the beds, her forearm over her head.

"What's up?" – Shay asked, squatting by the bed.

"Headache." – Rafferty informed, not moving an inch – "I have the worst kind: the ones that come with little warning."

"Have you taken anything?" - Shay asked, wanting to reach out to her partner but then decided against it.

"Yes, I'm just waiting for its effect." – Rafferty answered, eyes still closed beneath her arm.

"Okay. Hum. I'll leave you to it. Unless you need anything?" – Shay asked, not wanting to bother her partner but at the same time not wanting to just leave her there alone.

Rafferty smiled, finally uncovering her head and opening her eyes to look at Shay. She had seen her partner's eyes from up close before, when they were teasing each other, but the intensity they had right now took Rafferty by surprise. She noticed she had stopped breathing for a couple seconds and then turned her head to the ceiling, trying to disguise her brief discomfort by rubbing her left temple with her hand.

"You can keep me company." – She suggested.

Shay smiled. "Sure."

Rafferty scooted a bit further into the opposite side of the bed, giving Shay some space to sit down on the other side.

Shay's cellphone beeped once and its sound was abnormally loud in the practically empty restroom.

"Sorry." – Shay apologized, taking the cellphone off her jacket's pocket, turning off its sound.

"You should check it; it could be your blonde friend from the other night." – Rafferty said, obviously talking about Sarah. Her tone was neutral though, so Shay couldn't spot any particular emotion in it that could explain Rafferty's opinion in the matter.

"Possibly, yes. But I'll call her later." -Shay said, making herself more comfortable at the bed, pulling her right leg over it.

Rafferty let out a long sigh and begun rubbing her temples again.

"Let me." – Shay offered, leaning closer over Rafferty, and gently taking her partner's hands away from her head. She began massaging her partner's temples in a very slow motion, trying to ignore the heavy, constraining feeling at her chest.

After what could be many minutes, Rafferty slowly opened her eyes, staring back at Shay. There was something undeniable hanging in the short space between them, and it felt, for both of them, that something could detonate at any moment. It took Shay a couple of seconds to notice she had stopped moving her thumbs, and then she immediately inclined back and let go of Rafferty's face.

"Better?" – She asked, her voice coming out very weak and somewhat raspy.

Rafferty somehow didn't trust her voice to come out so instead gave a small nod.

What the hell just happened – she thought, suddenly aware that did not feel as a normal interaction being co-workers, or even between two friends.

Thinking it wise to get more space between them, Rafferty sat up, supporting her back against the cold wall.

Great, you've made her uncomfortable – Shay thought, looking down on her hands.

"Thanks." – Rafferty eventually said, managing a small smile. Shay looked up at her and shyly smiled back, feeling things were all right after all.

In that moment, a sudden thought crossed Rafferty's mind that took her by surprise.

She'd noticed before that Shay was an attractive woman. It was a fact; she had no problems recognizing it. But suddenly finding her cute, and sweet? Holy shit, Rafferty.

You're falling for a woman.

You're falling for your gay, paramedic partner.

Holy SHIT.


So? Thoughts? Any good? I'm awful at describing tense situations, so, sorry if it feels like it's lacking more descriptions.