Hey All, thank you everyone for reading, favoriting, reviewing and taking interest! So Dani is back and she is back for good. Day one has passed.
More in this chapter on the Taylor Family and their dynamic with Kelly and Dani working at the firehouse.
Please continue to review and let me know what you are thinking!
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chapter 4- Taylor Drama
She really did have a fun time hanging out and getting to know everyone. It gave them all a chance to see the real her and get to know her a little. "So kid, big Harvard Grad as yourself, why come back to Chicago?" Hermann asked.
Dani smirked, "you can take the girl out of the city, but you can never take the city out of the girl. I proved my point. I broke the mold, graduated med school and became a doctor and all that was great, but I was missing something. I missed home. I needed to come back. Besides, all my family is here" she replied.
That's when Mouch figured it out. "That's why you look so familiar. You're Michael Taylor's daughter, aren't you?" he asked.
They all looked at her a little closer, as if they were trying to see her dad in her. "Battalion Chief Michael Taylor, of the district?" Otis specified once all the dots were connected.
She nodded, confirming all their predictions. "Yes, he is my father" she replied.
"I heard he had a daughter in medical school, but no one ever spoke anything of it" Hermann added.
Dani swallowed thickly, her smile fading a bit. "My dad's a really private guy. He likes to keep his personal life private" she defended, the automatic reply already coming out.
Kelly noticed her tense and her mood changed when the guys started talking about her dad. He wondered what happened. As far as he knew, her relationship with her dad was fine.
"So that makes you Bobby's sister?" Gabby asked.
Before she could respond, they all head, "damn straight!"
Dani turned with a smile seeing her big brother walk through the door and straight up to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulder.
"I missed you so much Bobby" she said as she gave him a side hug.
"Right back at you kid. It's good to have you home" he replied.
She smiled, "I'm glad to be home. How are you? How's Alyssa and Nick?" she asked about her sister-in-law and nephew.
Bobby smiled, "they are good. They are all excited to have you here and can't wait to see you" he replied.
"Good, I'm excited to see them" she stated.
"You know, now I get why it took so long for us to figure out who you were. You're all sweet and kind, I don't know how you are related" the guys teased her and Bobby.
"Hey, these are the guys from the unit. Jay Halstead, Erin Lindsay, Kevin Atwater, Antonio Dawson, Al, Kim Burgess, Roman, Sgt. Platt and Sgt. Voight" he introduced.
Jay smiled and shook her hand, "nice to meet you" he greeted.
"Nice to meet you guys too. I'm Dani, Bobby's sister" she introduced herself.
"We heard a lot about you, it's nice to put a face to a name" Erin greeted.
Dani smiled, "thanks, the same for you guys, Bobby talks about you all the time. We are all family here. If you guys ever need anything, let me know. I'd be glad to help when I can" she replied.
It was nice getting to know everyone. When they got a minute, Bobby pulled his sister to the side to talk to her privately.
"So, how are you really doing?" he asked.
She shrugged, "I'm fine. Glad to be back home" she replied vaguely.
"Good, we are glad to have you back but that's not what I was talking about. Does Dad know you are back? How are things with Kelly?" he asked, wanting to know how she really was.
"Dad doesn't care about me, I don't either. Things with Kelly are getting figured out. They are really a nice group. Besides, I have Matt to vent to" she replied seriously.
Bobby nodded and took a chug of his beer, surveying the room. He met Severide's gaze and tipped his beer in his direction. Kelly nodded in acknowledgment. Matt and Bobby knew that they still loved each other. They just needed to figure it out on their own.
Dani was staying in Bobby's guestroom until she got settled. Her family was really happy and excited to have her back. They really missed her while she was gone. No one was more excited than her nephew. He was thrilled to have his aunt staying with them.
A week went by and it was time for family dinner with the whole family. Dani was nervous, but Nick was excited. He grabbed her hand and led them all through his grandfather's house.
"Grandpa, grandpa, Aunt Dani's here, and she's staying with us" he reported excitedly.
Michael Taylor smiled at his grandson before giving his daughter a pointed look. "Daniela" he greeted very serious.
She just nodded at her dad, "Pop, it's good to see you. You look good" she tried to be polite.
"I suppose you're staying for good now" he asked.
Dani glanced at her brother across the table. "Yes, I am for now. I am heading up the liaison program between the hospital and the EMT's. It's new so we are just starting up" she explained.
He scoffed, "never could make up your mind. I don't know why your wasting your time working at the firehouse. You'll never be more than an EMT. You should have just staid in Boston" he replied.
Dani was expecting the speech. Her dad never supported her. Not even when she was little. She knew it was coming. Her parents were traditional to fault. They expected their daughters to stay home, raise a family and their sons to go out and support their women.
"Dad come on" Johnny tried to defend his sister.
"No, it's okay Johnny. I was waiting for the worthlessness speech. Thanks dad, at least you let me get through the appetizers. No worries. I'm not quitting, I'm not going anywhere, and I am coordinating this program. You don't like me being here or around the firehouse, too bad. Don't be in my life. I grew up. I'm not afraid of you anymore" she said before getting up and walking.
She had enough of him and his attitude. She didn't want to be alone and she needed a drink. "Bobby, I'll see you later" she said to her brother before grabbing her stuff and walking out of the house.
When got to Molly's it was empty. There were only a few people scattered around the bar. "Hey kid, don't you all usually have family dinners on Sunday's?" Hermann asked.
Dani took a seat on the bar and shrugged, "it got cut short. Things between my dad and I are a little complicated" she didn't really need to go into detail.
Hermann got the idea. He wasn't nosy. He put a corona in front of her. "No worried kid, we all have our own problems" he added.
She just smiled and changed the subject. She started asking him about his life and his kids. It was really easy to talk to Hermann. He was like the dad in the group.
"So, are you going to tell me what's the deal with you and Severide?" he asked.
She smirked, playing with the label on the bottle. "What makes you think there's something going on?" she retorted.
He smiled, "I may be old, but I notice things" he added.
She smiled, "it's complicated. I was young, had a lot going on and needed a distraction" she vaguely explained.
Hermann nodded and looked over her shoulder. "Incoming" he warned.
Before Dani could turn to see what, he was talking about, said distraction came in and took a seat next to her. He immediately knew something was wrong. He grabbed her hand and led her to the back booth, away from prying ears.
"Tell me what's wrong" he said.
She gave him a pointed look. He didn't need to do this for her anymore. "Kelly," she started.
"No Dani. Come on, I can't just walk around here pretending I don't care about you or know when something is up with you. You may just want to be civil but that's not enough" he stated.
There was no question that he messed up before, but he wanted to make things right with her. "We have too much history to just be friends" she replied.
After all they went through together, being friends would just be a demotion. "Friends with benefits?" he suggested with a sly smirk.
Dani couldn't help but let out a laugh and hit in the stomach. That was the point of the question. He wanted to make her smile.
"Seriously, tell me what's wrong" he said after a minute.
She let out a breath and took a long chug of her beer. "Things got kind of rough at dinner with me and dad. Things changed a lot when I went away to school" she explained.
Kelly got up and moved to sit next to her. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her into his chest. He knew he was pushing it, but ne needed her to know he was there for her and that she wasn't alone.
She pulled away and wiped her tears laughing. "I'm sorry. This isn't your problem anymore" she said.
Kelly pulled her into his chest and kissed her temple. "Listen to me, no matter what happens with us, I am always going to be there for you" he said.
That's how their relationship started and that's how it was going to stay. They were just civil with each other. Things were easier at the firehouse too.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
3 weeks later….
The guys were getting used to Dani around the firehouse. They were enjoying getting to know her better also. It was also easier going with Kelly too, now that they knew the basis of their new relationship.
It was about 3 weeks after her arrival when things started to take a turn.
Dani was stocking the ambo when Gabby came over. "Hey Dani, you have a visitor" she said.
Dani nodded, wiped her hands on her thighs before jumping out of the ambo and making her way over to the doors of the garage. Dani froze when she saw who was waiting for her.
"What are you doing here?" she asked.
"I got transferred to Firehouse 38 and heard you were here. I have to bring some reports to Chief Boden from a conjoined call. I miss you Dani" he moved to step towards her, but she stepped back, away from him.
That's when Kelly stepped up. He'd been watching her though the whole encounter. When he saw her tense and move away, he knew something was wrong.
Dani glanced at him as he stepped up beside her. "Is there a problem here?" he asked.
"Nothing that concerns you" the guy replied.
"Lt. Kelly Severide, Squad 3. Since you are coming into my firehouse, harassing my friend, I think it is my business" Kelly defended her.
She turned and put a hand on his chest to stop him. She saw the guys taking a step closer to them, ready to defend her and their lieutenant if necessary. She didn't want to cause trouble.
"Cody, please just leave. I don't want trouble here" she said.
Cody looked at her with a pointed look. "We will talk eventually Dani. I want my girlfriend back" he said.
Dani glared, "I told you back in Boston that we are done. I told you that we are over. We don't have anything together anymore. Leave and stay away from me" she warned before going back to the firehouse and straight into the locker room. She just needed a minute.
Kelly was right on her heels, following her in and locking the door behind them. "Who the hell was that Dani?" he asked.
"We went out a couple times in med school. He got obsessed and rough. I ended it. He doesn't get it, doesn't get that we are over" she informed.
Kelly wiped her tears and pulled her into his arms. "He's not going to bother you anymore Dani. Did you tell Bobby or Johnny? You need to report him" he said.
"It's not that serious Kelly. He wouldn't hurt me" she said.
Before Kelly could press further, they got a call. 'Truck 81, Ambo 61, Battalion 25, Squad 3…structure collapse' the operator said.
They all got into gear. Dani left all her emotions behind and got into doctor mode. The scene was a mess. Her dad was there as the on-scene commander, calling orders to everyone.
"Chief Taylor" Kelly greeted as Squad waited for their orders.
"There's a trauma triage at the ambo. They need help there" he said to his daughter indirectly.
Dani ignored her dad and ran right over to the victim crushed under a pile of rocks.
"Hello Sir, I am a doctor. I am here to help you. Can you tell me what hurts?" she asked as she laid her bag of equipment down.
"My ribs hurt to breathe. My leg hurts a little" he said.
Dani nodded and pulled out her stethoscope. "I'm going to take a listen okay" she started listening to his lungs, checking his abdomen and the pulses in his legs. "Sir, what's your name?" she asked.
"Derek" he replied breathlessly.
"Okay Derek, I'm Dani. I'm a trauma surgeon. I am going to be honest with you. Your breathing sounds coarse, your lungs are working extra hard to breathe. That's the last of your worries. I can't feel a pulse on your right ankle. That means there is no blood flow to the leg. You have a crush injury. In order for you to survive, I need to take off your leg" she informed.
"What are my chances doc?" he asked.
She noticed everyone, especially her dad and Kelly gather around her waiting for her next move. "This is not an OR. There is a risk of bleeding, but I think that if we don't do this now, you won't survive" she said.
He nodded, "do it" he consented.
"Dani" her dad started.
"No, I can do this. This is what I know how to do" she yelled.
"Okay everyone enough, let Dani do what she needs to" Kelly defended her.
She let out a nervous breath and nodded, "Dawson, start an IV and hang fluids" she ordered. "Brett, call Med and fill them in. Have and OR and Connor Rhodes on standby" she instructed as she started to set up her equipment.
Dani pulled out some morphine. "Okay Derek, here is some pain medication I am going to get started" she said.
Dawson and Brett monitored his vitals as Dani performed the procedure. Brett handed her the packing as they packed the wound and wrapped it up for the transfer to the hospital.
"Okay, let's get him to Med. I am worried about the bleeding" she said as Kelly and the squad carried the gurney to the ambo and got the patient loaded in. It was a rough call.
Once they got the hospital, Connor was waiting for the ambo at the doors to the ER. They got the call from Dawson and the recap from Dani on the way to the OR.
Dani followed them into the OR. She was there for Derek and she wanted to see this case through. While they were in there, Derek bottomed out. He started bleeding out. They tried to infuse him and get his blood to clot but it was too late.
Dani took a shower in the locker room and changed into some new scrubs before finding Connor waiting for her at her locker. "Are you okay?" he asked.
She shrugged and broke down. Connor wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in a hug. She told him about Kelly and her daughter. He knew the day was rough for her. "It'll be okay. I'm really sorry about your day. I know things are hard for you right now. If you don't want to talk to your brothers or Kelly, then you have me. I'm here for you too Dani" he said wiping her tears.
She smiled, "thank you Connor. I don't know why God put you in my life, but I am grateful he did" she said.
He smiled and gave her another hug before kissing the top of her head. Dani had to get back to the firehouse. Everyone watched as she just walked in and made her way up to her office. They knew what happened at the hospital and knew it had to be tough for her.
She kept her herself the rest of the shift. She dropped her report off in Chief Boden's office before making her way back to her office.
Kelly had enough and made his way up to the office quarters. He knew the day was hard for her already but with the call ending the way it did, he knew she was hurting.
He was about to knock when he heard her on the phone.
"Dani, I'm worried about you. I know this day is rough enough for you without the call you went on and seeing Dad and dealing with his bullshit" Bobby said.
"Bobby, I'm fine okay. I promise everything is okay. I am just trying to work through things" she replied.
"Is Kelly going to help you through this? He needs to take responsibility" Bobby argued.
"Bobby, stop blaming Kelly. It's not his fault. I just have to get through today. I'll be fine. I have to go. I'll text you later" she said before hanging up.
She just rested her head on her arms. Kelly knocked on her door and made his way in. "Hey, what's up?" she asked.
He gave her a pointed look. "Are you okay? With today and everything?" he asked.
She tensed a little. They had never talked about this before. "I'm fine, just dealing with the day" she replied.
He nodded and glanced down before looking like he was going to say anything but not knowing what. Dani got up from the desk and sat next to him on the bed. "Kelly what's going on?" she asked.
"Dani, I know that I wasn't there for you back then. I wasn't there when you had to go through all this. You went though everything on your own. I know I can't just make up for that in one I'm sorry, but I want you to know that I am here for you" he said.
Dani looked at him with tears in her eyes, "Kelly what happened was no one's fault. We were young and didn't know what we were doing. I don't blame you. Today is hard for both of us" she replied.
He nodded, "I know. I'm just saying that I am here for you" he said kissing the top of her head.
It was a really rough day for Dani. She was dealing with a wide range of emotions. After shift, she made her way to the cemetery. She sent her brothers a text and let them know that she just needed her own space.
She crouched by the grave and laid the flowers down. "Hi Jessica, I'm sorry I haven't been here in a while. I really miss you. I was thinking a lot about you today. I'm working at the firehouse and we had a really rough call and I thought a lot about you. I really miss you" she cried as she ran her fingers over the name on the tombstone.
"She misses you too. She's watching us and she's always there with us" she turned to see Kelly standing there.
She got up and walked over to him. "What are you doing here?" she asked surprised to see him.
"I came to say goodbye. I've been coming here every year since she died" he replied.
Dani nodded and turned back to the grave. Kelly wrapped an arm around her pulling her into his chest. "You know she's always with us" he said.
She nodded, "I know, thank you for coming" she replied.
He kissed the top of her head, "I'll always be there for you" he stated.
"How about you come back to my house. I always watch her favorite movie and eat popcorn" she looked up at him as she suggested.
He smiled down at her, "I would love that" he followed her home.
Once they got to her apartment, they were both somber. Dani changed into some sweats and a t-shirt. Kelly made himself comfortable on the couch as Dani set up the movie.
They started out on opposite sides of the couch. Kelly woke up towards the end of the movie. It took him a minute to realize he was at Dani's. He looked down to see Dani asleep curled on his chest.
He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her forehead. He readjusted himself a little, so he could get off the couch without waking her up.
He left her on the couch and made his way to the kitchen. Kelly wasn't a great cook, but he could at least fry some eggs.
Dani stirred on the couch and started to wake up, looking around trying to remember what she was doing on the couch. She heard some noises coming from the kitchen, so she peered over the couch and saw Kelly standing there at the stove.
She laid back down on the couch and just took a breath, looking at the ceiling as the memories of the night before came rushing back to her.
She took another breath before getting off the couch and silently making her way to the kitchen. She stood at the entry and just watched Kelly try to make breakfast.
The eggs were frying in some canola oil and the bacon was sizzling in the pan on the next burner. Kelly reached in to flip the eggs when some oil splashed up at him, causing him to pull his hand back and silently swear.
Dani walked over to the island and smiled, "that's what you get for trying to make breakfast" she teased as she made her way over to the stove.
He laughed and relinquished control, letting Dani take over finishing making the eggs and the bacon. Kelly made himself comfortable on the island, watching Dani finish cooking. It was bringing him back to when they used to do things like this when they were married.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Flashback….
Kelly and Dani were 18 and 20 years old, having moved into their first house and settling into married life. It was like any other morning after having a hard night at the academy.
Kelly was barely awake, still cuddled in bed, feeling lazy and not wanting to get up. There were so many pillows and the sheets were so comfortable, he didn't want to get up. Looking at the clock, he saw it was already 10am. He could hear Dani downstairs and could smell the food from the kitchen.
He finally got up and made his way downstairs. He stopped in the entrance of the kitchen to see Dani standing at the counter in her underwear and a baggy Squad shirt of his shaking her hips to the music playing softly in the kitchen.
He took a seat at the table and surveyed the kitchen. There was flour everywhere, a kettle warming up on the stove and her hair up in a messy bun. He looked up and down his wife seeing her hips shaking, flour on her hips.
He licked his lips, looking at her bottom, transfixed. There was a spot of flour on her skin, right at the edge of her underwear, kissing her skin.
When she moved to take the kettle off the stove, she turned to set it on the counter and pour her tea, jumping when she noticed her husband sitting at the table with a hungry expression on his face.
"Jesus Christ Kelly" she clutched her chest in surprise, "I told you not to sneak up on me anymore" she warned him.
He got up and made his way over to her, "couldn't help myself" he smirked looking at her from under his brow. His hair was slightly wet at the ends and ruffled. She smiled, loving the way he looked in the morning.
"Breakfast is almost ready" she said with a smile.
"Mhmm" he groaned and wrapped his hands around her, putting his hands on her hips, following her exact motions that she was doing on the dough in her hands.
"You have flour on your ass" he whispered into her ear, biting impatiently on her neck. Dani tried to keep a cool exterior for at least a couple minutes.
"Do I?" she teased, already knowing where this was going.
His hand came down hard and unexpected on her ass, causing her to shiver, suppressing a yelp of pleasure and surprise.
"Not anymore" he replied.
He continued kissing and nibbling on her neck and shoulders, while she tried to keep kneading the dough but now all she was doing was clutching it tightly, unable to think of anything but Kelly's hot and hard stomach against her back and his raging erection pressing intimately, suggestively, deliciously to her tailbone.
She gave up when he moved his hands up her stomach under the thin t-shirt and cupped her breasts, pressing into her violently.
"Drop your pants" she breathed out, throwing her head back, letting him kiss her anywhere he could reach.
"As you wish" he turned her to face him, her hands smeared in flour.
He lifted her slightly, the tiny little thing she was compared to his towering figure, and kissed her, touching her lips with his tongue, always like the first time.
"There's going to be dough on everything right?" she whispered, gasping for air, as she sat on the counter and started his way down her body, impatiently removing the shirt out of the way.
"I can guarantee that princess" he pulled down her knickers, kneeling before her.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dani turned to put the food on the table when she saw Kelly looking at her like he was trying to see through her. She put the food on the island and walked over to sit next to him, "Kelly, are you okay? You're thinking really hard there" she smiled as she sat on the bar stool.
He shook his head and smiled at her, making his plate, "yeah, it was nothing. Just seeing you standing at the stove in those small little shorts made me think of that time you were trying to make croissants and flour ended up everywhere" he smirked as he saw her look down at her plate and blush.
"Yeah I remember. You always did make a mess in the kitchen" she stated.
Kelly smirked as he turned to look at her, "if memory serves me, I wasn't alone making the mess most of the time" he teased, laughing when Dani buried her head in her hands.
Before she could say anything else, there was a knock at the door. "I'll get it, you start eating" Dani needed an out. Kelly just continued laughing.
Dani made her way to the living room to open the door, standing there surprised to see her mom and dad.
"Mom, Pop, what are you doing here? Is everything okay?" she asked, moving aside to let them in.
Kelly heard her from the kitchen, standing at his place watching her parents walk through the door, stopping short at the sight of him.
"Kelly" her mom asked, looking between the two, taking their state of undress as a sign.
"Lieutenant, what are you doing in my daughters' house this early?" her dad asked.
Dani closed the door and moved to stand next to Kelly. "We were just having breakfast Pop. We just woke up. What's going on? Why are you both here so early?" Dani turned the conversation around.
"Your mother was worried about you after yesterday and wanted to check on you before I left for the office" Chief Taylor stated.
"I am fine mom. Kelly was there for me. We got through it together" Dani replied.
Chief Taylor scoffed at hearing that Kelly was there over night with his daughter. Dani glared at her dad. "What dad?" she asked, getting ready for war.
"Now you deal with it together? It's too late Daniella. Jessica is already dead. You are the one who left your family, your home and your marriage to live your life. You chose to deal with this alone. You were the one who chose to leave and not let your family, or your husband be there for you" he yelled at her.
Dani just stood there with tears running down her face. She wasn't expecting that. She didn't know what to say. "I left for college dad. I went to further my education, to become a doctor. I didn't know I was pregnant. I didn't know I was losing everything by moving away to college. I came to you for help. I called and told you that I needed to come home and get in contact with Kelly. You never helped me. I had to figure things out on my own. Jessica was sick. It wasn't my fault or anyone's that she died. And thank God for Bobby and Matt for telling Kelly and helping me deal with everything. I needed my family and you weren't there for me" she cried.
"You made your choice when you left Chicago" Chief Taylor said.
"Michael" her mother scolded her father.
"Chief, I need you to hear me say this. I didn't know about Jessica until after she was already sick. I didn't know Dani was pregnant. I feel terrible that she had to go through that all on her own, but she did and she's a stronger woman for it. Your daughter not only dealt with moving away from her family, she made a life for herself, worked 2 jobs while being pregnant and going to medical school full time. You should be proud of the woman she is, not ashamed of what happened in the past that was out of our control" Kelly defended Dani as he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her into his chest.
"You don't know anything of it son" Chief Taylor said.
"I know that it's time for you to go" Kelly left Dani in the kitchen and opened the door to her apartment for her parents to leave.
She told him that she was having problems with her family and the relationship with her dad was strained since she left for school, but he didn't know the extent of it. He felt horrible she had to deal with all that on her own. She had no one with her at all.
Once her parents left, Kelly walked right up to her and engulfed her in his arms, letting her sob and the damn break. "It's going to be okay" he whispered reassuringly as he rubbed a hand up and down her back.
"I'm sorry you had to be subjected to some stupid Taylor drama" she said between tears.
Kelly shook his head, "no other place I would rather be" he replied.