Chapter 7

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Stella heard a knock at her apartment door, she was in the bathroom putting on some makeup for the work day. "It's open"

"You know normally people ask who it is before they tell someone to come in their home"

"I knew you were coming though"

"For someone so cautious with our relationship, you are too trusting of Chicago" Kelly said walking to the bathroom door

"Morning" Stella said turning around

"How is the bruise" Kelly said placing his hand on her hip and slowly sliding it down her pants

"Not too bad, the ice helped. And you are just driving me to work" Stella said smiling and catching his hand before he got too frisky

"Well I am early"

"Were you early hoping you could get me in bed before shift?"

"I am not that guy anymore...well I am not as much that guy anymore"

"Mhmm. Well, why are you here early then?"

"Hoping you may want to get coffee near the river before work?"

"Sure, I will be ready in five minutes, just let me change." Stella said pushing Kelly out of the way "I will meet you outside"

"You are kicking me out?"

"Yeah" she said and then leaned in to give him a liss on the cheek

Kelly took a deep breath and walked out the door to stay on Stella's good side

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Stella walked out of the garage towards Kelly's car. She looked up towards Herrmann's front porch to see him and Cindy smiling "Nothing happened"

"It is good to see you with a smile on your face, that is all" Cindy said

"Mhmm. See you both later" Stella said waving bye and getting in the car

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"I followed what you said" Kelly said like a little kid

"I am impressed with your willpower" Stella said placing her hand on Kelly's thigh

"Stop. Please."

"I am not doing anything" she laughed

"You are leading my imagination to other places" Kelly admitted and drove off

"It is not like a deprived you yesterday"

"You are right, until you said you were going to do other things when you got home"

"I didn't" Stella said "feel better now"

"No. And honestly, I would have rather just held you in my arms last night"

"That is really sweet" Stella smiled

"You are gonna ruin my street cred"

"I think that wouldn't be a bad thing"

"Probably in this case, you are right" Kelly smiled pulling in a parking spot and then leaned over to kiss Stella "We have about a 45 minutes before we need to be at 51"

Stella and Kelly got their coffee and sat on a boulder along the parks' path

"I was thinking" Stella started

"About" Kelly questioned

"Casey"

"In what capacity" he laughed

"With how he is feeling about Dawson and a way we can cheer him up"

"I think that is something he and Dawson need to figure out together"

"No, like I think he needs a hobby or a guys weekend to just keep his mind busy. And since you two are friends and all"

"What are you getting at" Kelly sighed

"You need to get him out of his head space. Look there were three people messing up the vibe of the firehouse, we are getting back to normal which I guess is actually new since we weren't really out in the firehouse. I am rambling"

"Yes" Kelly agreed

"So misery loves company and now it is just Casey...so he needs a hobby"

"Boden bought a boat, maybe we could go fishing"

"There ya go. Great idea" Stella said finishing her coffee

"You mentioned us being new to the firehouse"

"Yeah"

"Does that mean we aren't keeping a lid on things in front of everyone"

"Well we aren't going to make anyone uncomfortable. But I also don't feel like being in high school anymore about it" Stella said

"Agreed, so nothing overtly public"

"Yeah, especially because Grisom is keeping a close eye on the firehouse. Are you still on his shit list?"

"I actually think he is trying to turn me against Boden. He keeps inviting me to fancy dinners. He actually mailed a letter and you were included on the envelope" Kelly stated

"He knows about us?" Stella inquired

"Probably" Kelly said

"Perhaps we should go?"

"We literally just got back to an okay place and you want to place us in the middle of CFD politics?" Kelly said very quickly back

"If we can help Boden and the house, I would try almost anything. It wouldn't be a date though, just work"

"Sounds super fun" Kelly rolled his eyes

"It will be fun, wasn't being a spy a childhood dream of yours?" Stella said giddily

"Clearly it was yours" Kelly laughed

Stella punched his arm. "Shut up. Let me have my fun" Stella said staring into Kelly's eyes

"I missed this..." Kelly said softly not breaking their gaze

Kelly and Stella leaned in at the same time towards one another, their lips slowly met and his hands cupped her face, deepening the kiss. Stella slowly pulled back and whispered "overtly public?"

Kelly laughed and pecked Stella on the lips one more time "lets get to work". Stella stood up and put her hand out for Kelly to grab. They walked hand in hand to his car.

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