Title: A New Start
Chapter 4 – Tossing in a few more Wrenches


"Still with us?" Matt inquired as he slowed his pace; Kelly nodding and adding how the pursuing vehicle slowed his pace also.

"They probably think we know something."

"How do they even know where we're going?"

"Maybe whoever set these fires wants to send us a warning message," Kelly huffed as he directed Matt to pull into the next gas station.

"Or stop us from talking to the guy that might have seen something? Think Jones knows more than he's told Boden or the CPD?"

"One way to find out," Kelly replied as they watched the dark sedan roll slowly pass the gas station and then continue on its way.

"Or…we're just paranoid," Matt stated as Kelly pursed his lips.

"Do we have reason?"

"No…" Matt answered slowly as Kelly's suspicion remained elevated. "What?"

"Nothing. Just odd…" Kelly mused but decided to drop the subject for now. They waited a few minutes before Matt slowly pulled his truck into traffic and directed it toward the home of Trevor Jones.

"Should call that hot cop from…"

"What?"

"Cop….that CPD cop. Dawson's brother's partner," Kelly stammered as Matt cast him an amused glance. "What?" Kelly countered as Matt said nothing in return, merely shrugged and smiled. They finally arrived at Jones home and both headed up the sidewalk, each looking around to see if that dark sedan had followed them. They saw nothing but that's exactly what their follower wanted them to think. But they were there…watching.

"Hi…Mrs. Jones?"

"Yes…who are you? We really aren't interested."

"Oh sorry," Matt stated as he pulled his CFD badge and showed her, Kelly doing the same. "Matt Casey and Kelly Severide. We just started at 51. Heard about what happened and…well we just wanted to see if anyone has given Trevor an update on what happened."

"No…" Zoe Jones stated sadly as her lips pursed. "Come in. Boden called and told him about the new guys but he…well maybe it'll be different with you actually here. Although…he might not want to see anyone in peson."

"We'll understand," Matt assured her as they waited in the front entranceway and watched as Trevor Jones wife disappeared from view to go and see her husband. A few minutes later she came back with a dismayed expression on her face; her husband nowhere in sight.

"I'm sorry. I thought with you coming here that he might be receptive to talking but…but he said no. I'm sorry."

"We understand," Kelly started with a tight lipped expression. "Just tell him that CPD is on the case and uh…well they are looking to lay charges of murder for the death of Harry Caplan and the attempted murder of your husband."

"What? Murder?"

Only that question didn't come from Trevor Jones wife Zoe, it came from Trevor himself. Both Matt and Kelly looked up to see the man at the end of the hallway remain fixed in place before he started to slowly limp toward them; finally coming into view and letting them see his scars on his face and neck and partially amputated left arm.

"It wasn't your fault," Matt informed him. "CPD said the MO for that fire…that arson fire was the same as another and the burn pattern indicated it was deliberately set."

"AI confirmed it. You weren't to blame for Caplan's death," Kelly confirmed as Jones shoulders slightly slumped. "Just thought you'd want to know. Might not help much now but uh…at least you can know that it wasn't your fault."

"Caplan…he…murder?"

"Yeah," Kelly nodded as he pulled a picture from the file in Matt's grasp. "This guy…did you ever see him at any of the fires?"

"We'll leave this here and if you think of anything…just let us know," Matt told Jones as he looked at Matt and nodded. "Sorry."

"Yeah me too," Kelly added as they heard footsteps and looked up to see a little girl's face peer around the corner.

"It's okay Abby," Zoe picked up her daughter and held her close. "These are friends of daddy's."

"Are they firemen too?"

"There are," Jones answered firmly. "I hope you find who did this."

"We do to."

"Thanks for your time," Matt offered as they turned and headed back toward the door. They didn't expect to be let in or sit down with Jones, on the first visit but hoped that if they did drop by again to see him they'd be invited to stay a bit longer.

"We're going to drop by Sarah Caplan's and tell her what happened. Want her to know it wasn't your fault."

"Won't help," Jones confessed bitterly. "She hates me."

"But at least she'll know the truth," Matt reminded him as Zoe leaned into her husband and offered the two newcomers a strained expression.

"Thanks again for your time."

They take their leave and then slowly head back to Matt's truck; both of them offering distressed expressions.

"Damn," Kelly cursed as Matt slowly pulled away from the house.

"Yeah. One more stop and then…first shift tomorrow."

"I want this guy," Kelly hissed as his fists tightened.

"I hear that."

XXXXXXXX

Dawson looked up as Matt and Kelly entered the Firehouse and noticed that Matt's frame was a bit tenser than usual and his expression – grim? He headed past them, his gaze slightly lifting upward, catching hers before it dropped and he disappeared into the hallway to head toward his office.

'Daddy…'

Matt heard the Trevor Jones little girl's voice in his mind's eye but a few seconds later it was replaced with his own daughter's face.

'Where are you going daddy?'

'I'm going to Chicago for a new job. You'll stay with gramma until I find a new home for us okay?'

'Why?'

'Because daddy needs this new job and I think it'll be a good start for all of us.' With that he hugged his daughter and then looked up at his mother with a heavy frown. 'I'll call tonight. I already have a few schools lined up to look at so just need to find a small home in the area around the school and work.'

'We'll make this work Matthew. Caitlin and I will continue packing in the meantime. At least you took the job in summer.'

'I think this will be good for all of us. Like going home. But if you don't want me to…just tell me.'

'Time to slay the demons of the past. You'll make a new start and I know you'll find a good woman that will love you and your daughter just as much as me.'

"Matt?"

His thoughts were instantly broken by Dawson's soft tone, prompting him to look up with offer a hasty tense smile.

"How'd it go? Did you get to see him?"

"We did."

"Really?" Dawson retorted as Matt nodded. "Boden said he wouldn't see anyone yet."

"He wouldn't come out at first but then we told his wife that CPD is looking for someone who deliberately set the fire and caused the murder of Caplan and his attempted murder he…he came out. Wow…Boden told us what happened but I didn't expect…and seeing his little girl. Was heartbreaking. At least he knows. Kinda wanted to give him closure."

"And did you go see Sarah Caplan?"

"Yeah…she wouldn't open the door to us. Told us to go away and that was it. Kelly tried to tell her that it wasn't Jones fault and that it was an arson setup and her husband was murdered and they were looking for the person who did it but she turned up the music and never heard her words. Can't blame her for being angry but it wasn't Jones fault."

"Maybe I'll try to stop by later and tell her. If she doesn't listen I'll just kick the door in," Dawson smirked as Matt's expression softened a bit more.

"Going all Gabby Dawson on her?"

"Wait…who told you that?" Dawson retorted with a small stammer as her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Sworn to secrecy," Matt countered with a grin.

"Oh I'll get it out of you."

"Sounds like a dare," Matt stammered as she nodded confidently.

"And I always win my dares."

With that she gave him a wink and then disappeared from his view, Matt's smiling growing wider as he contemplated her parting words.

XXXXXXXX

Kelly paused outside Firehouse 51 and pulled his phone, his mind wondering if he should call Detective Lindsay and tell her about the car that followed them on the way to Trevor Jones place. Just go to the precinct…you know you want to…his mind goaded as a heavy sigh escaped his lips. But then as he thought about his son, his countenance dropped. She doesn't want to be with some guy that has a kid…his mind started but then stopped as he scolded himself – Shay's words flooding his anxious brain.

'If she doesn't love George as much as you…move on, she's not worth your time…or mine,' Shay added with a wink.

Kelly told himself that tomorrow he'd be on regular duty so with that he texted Boden that he was going to drop by CPD and would be back in an hour. On the ride to the precinct, Kelly texted Shay with an update and then let his mind drift toward the earlier incident with their follower. Did Matt know more than he let on? Why would he? Is he involved in this in some way? Or was it just paranoia?

"Kelly Severide…"

Kelly walked into Precinct 21 and was instantly greeted by Hank Voight who was on his way out.

"Voight," Kelly nodded with a casual smile as they exchanged firm handshakes.

"How's your old man?"

"Still around," Kelly smirked before his expression turned serious. "Any leads on who killed Caplan?"

"I'm heading out on another matter but you can head up the stairs and talk to the team if you want."

"Erin…Detective Lindsay gave us the picture on the guy you think is responsible," he gently stammered, catching himself and hoping that Voight wouldn't notice the familial slip on his detective's name. Voight of course noticed but it wasn't the time to make an issue out of it so pushed into the back of his mind for a later date.

"Let us know if you see him. Gotta run."

"Sure."

Kelly pulled away and headed for the stairs to go up.

"Hey…hot stuff!"

Kelly turned around to see Trudy, Mouch's wife looking at him with a serious expression; a few other officers offered him an amused stare. "You did that on purpose right?" Kelly tossed back in sarcasm.

"Mouch said it was part of the new guy welcome," she smiled and shrugged. "But I wasn't kidding about the single ladies here. If you want the dirt on any of them just hit me up."

"Uh sure…" Kelly replied slowly as Erin appeared at the top of the stairs. "Erin…Detective Lindsay."

"Smooth," Trudy muttered in an undertone as Kelly pulled away with pursed lips.

"Is she giving you a hard time?"

"Apparently she's under orders from Mouch," Kelly snickered as Erin flashed him the dimpled smile that made him go weak in the knees.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah fine just…Matt and I went to see Trevor Jones. Gave him a printout of the suspect. Maybe he'll call…hopefully."

"How is he?"

"He's…raw but I think knowing that it wasn't his fault put his mind at ease a little," Kelly replied as the two of them slowly walked up the stairs to the Intelligence pod. "Sarah Caplan wouldn't open the door to us to hear the truth. We told her through the door but uh…but not sure she heard. I get her bitterness."

"Can't imagine. Would be hard to be married to a fir…" she started and then stopped when she noticed Kelly's expression instantly droop. Way to go! She instantly berated herself and raced to find some kind of follow-up. "Guess being with a cop is no better. Had to throw myself under that bus also," she groaned as she offered him a weak smile.

"High risk professions…I get it," Kelly added as he tried to tell himself that she was giving him a hint and he'd better take it. "So was just wondering if anyone mentioned a dark sedan hanging out at any of the scenes?"

"I can check the field notes," she told him as Kelly nodded and watched her head for her desk. "Why?"

"Just…wondering."

A few seconds later he heard some loud laughter and looked behind him to see the rest of the Intelligence team enter the space, which instantly seemed a lot smaller.

"Hey man…what's going on?" Antonio asked as he slapped Kelly on the back.

"Just had a few questions about the case," Kelly answered in truth.

"Phone's work," Jay Halstead piped up as Kelly's brow furrowed.

"So do carrier pigeons."

"Ignore them," Erin shot back as she walked back up to Kelly with the file in her grasp. "Let's see…" she mused as Kelly glanced up to see Jay watching them for a few seconds before he looked back down.

"Lemme guess…Voight knows my old man and now everyone here knows about me?" Kelly asked Erin in a quiet tone.

"Don't let them put you off. Hank had only good things to say. They are worried about a new guy on their turf," she praised as he couldn't help but offer her a small smile. "Okay…no mention specifically but I'll see if we have any photo archives and then…I can let you know."

"Okay," Kelly added with a tight smile as he turned to leave. Once again he looked up and saw Jay watching them and looked at Erin with a frown. "Standing too close?" He asked in a soft whisper as she just shook her head and smiled.

"He's my partner…nothing more," she told him solidly as he gave her a firm smile; his inner being feeling a sense of inner relief.

"Happy to hear it," he paused before he turned to leave. "Any areas around here better to live than others?"

"That's a longer discussion."

"Right."

"Which we can discuss say tomorrow night. At Molly's?"

Kelly's brows arched with delight as he nodded and smiled; his mind's eye picking up a few surprised glances and whispered words as he agreed to see her later at Molly's and then turned and left.

"She's single by the way," Trudy tossed at Kelly as he passed by her desk.

"Good to know," Kelly replied with a confident smile as he exited precinct 21.

XXXXXXXX

"So any pictures of the car on file?" Matt asked Kelly as they lingered in his office early the next morning.

"Erin's going to get her computer guy to check any surveillance footage and pictures to see if anyone recorded it there," Kelly informed him as he leaned against the wall of Matt's office. "Did you find a place yet?"

"Made a few calls last night. Found a small house with a finished basement for my mom. Nothing big but don't need much. You?"

"Always been a loft kinda guy," Kelly replied with a small sigh. "Erin said she'd give me some insight on neighborhoods around here."

"Really?"

"Just a drink. Nothing serious," Kelly shrugged as Matt smiled and nodded.

"Tonight?"

"Tonight. She had part two of that stakeout last night."

But before Matt could offer Kelly another word, Otis appeared in the doorway with a surprised expression.

"What's going on?" Matt asked in haste.

"You have a visitor."

"What? For one of us?" Kelly asked in surprise as Otis nodded.

"Who?"


A/N: hmmm yeah like to keep you all guessing hehe so did danger scare away that easily? Does the former Truck lieutenant know more than he's letting on? will it affect our boys? especially now as each works to build a new home in Chicago and work toward new relationships? Will Matt and Gabby have that dare? hehe and will Kelly and Erin have that drink? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!