Title: Zero Degrees
Chapter 7 – Making a Deal with the Devil
How did it get to this? How the hell did I let it get this far? As soon as Matt Casey had corrected him he knew he was in a place he wasn't supposed to be. As soon as he had said his brother's name he knew he was in a situation where he was doomed. Compassion? Remorse? Admiration? I don't feel those things for an enemy, why am I feeling them now? And toward a stranger no less. They are not your enemy!
All his life, Josh had prided himself on being given an assignment and getting it done faster and with greater efficiency over anyone else – aside from Luke. He was given an assignment…a job…a job that should have been as easy as breathing for him. Take out the enemy. But unlike signing up for something willingly; something he believed in, he had signed for one man's personal agenda, a murderous vendetta that in reality was nothing more than petty jealousy.
For a few split seconds his mind whisks him out of the small cottage and he's back in the bar that very first night, watching Benny Severide take his leave and looking up as a stranger approaches him.
'I'm Don.'
'Bob,' he had given a fake name. To him everyone unknown was an enemy; for which occasions he was always prepared. 'What's it to you if I know him?'
'You know him well?'
'Well enough to know it's none of your business.'
'No need to be testy. Just didn't seem like a lot of love loss between you two.'
'What if there isn't? Who are you?'
'Oh who I am doesn't matter. But I know who you are…Joshua Matthews.'
In that instant his mind raced as his eyes narrowed at the smug looking stranger.
'What do you want?'
'I want to hire you to kill Benny Severide.'
'And why would I do that?'
'Because it's what you do. I'll make it worth your while.'
'Why would I put my life on the line for you?'
'Because of Luke.' In that moment he knew he was sunk. His brother? What?
'What the hell does this have to do with my brother?' He had hissed as his hand instantly seized the throat of the man a few inches from him; the rest of the patrons in the dive bar not wanting to get involved. 'No one here will ever blink an eye if I kill you right now. That's power you can't buy. Now what the hell do you know about my brother?'
'I know that…he was there…on purpose…' the man named Don wheezed as he held Josh's gaze. 'I know who…set you up…to kill him.'
'Luke was…'
'You were…set up. His death…wasn't your fault…can't…breathe.'
His mind in that instant took him back to the fateful moment when his beloved twin came into view, the bullet already gone, his face turning and their eyes locking one last time through the scope before the bullet slammed into his heart and his screams were instantly shattered.
'What do you want?'
'I want to hire you to get rid of Benny Severide. You do that and I'll tell you what you want to know.'
'Why do you want him dead?'
'A number of reasons and all of them personal. He owes me money, he married and then divorced the woman I loved and he is just a general pain in my ass. I'll tell you the rest if you agree to my terms. You kill Benny for me and I'll tell you who put your brother in front of your scope on purpose.'
'You have five minutes.'
He held up the gun to Matt Casey's head, cocked the trigger and determined his mind to just kill the young man before him and be done with it.
Don's your enemy; not Matt Casey, Luke's voice is heard as Josh's finger falters; Casey having no clue that his life could have ended by a silenced bullet in that second. But he earned his stay of execution as Josh's inner mental battle waged a war and ultimately decided that someone else would chose the fire fighters fate – his own best friend.
With that he set out to take care of Kelly Severide – wanting to put him into the position of executioner as he had been. He didn't have a choice – or did he? No…you were set up, you were told to fire on an enemy target; you had good Intel. It wasn't your fault Luke got in the way! He had taken a blanket but his mind wasn't ready for the choice it made for him; tossing the blanket down to the man he had set out to kill.
Kill him and be done with it. Why the hell can't you just pull the trigger and walk away! His mind yells as he pulls back from the mouth of the chasm; taking in Kelly's frantic mutters to save Matt and his father. Kelly Severide. He's…he's changed, his mind growled as he leaned up against the tree, seemingly unable to move from place. His mind flashes back to when they were kids…growing up in the same neighborhood; Kelly always his own man and boss, not caring about anyone else except whatever cute girl he could get to look in his direction or the one he could steal away from another.
"Matt…"
He hears Kelly mentioning Matt's name once more and feels his own heart ache for his brother. What connection does Kelly have with Matt Casey that he would risk so much? Matt asked after Kelly despite the fact his life could have ended. Both were so selfless and yet seemed connected by a strong bond despite the fact they weren't fleshly brothers. You can't take one from the other, Luke's voice reminds him. You need to end this and find who killed me. Josh please, just walk away now.
For a few seconds he looks behind him; past the shack to a small cottage behind the trees; the place where Matt Casey was being held and he squeezes his eyes shut. You can't do this. You can't just kill them in cold blood. You're better than this. This isn't war. Find Don and make him tell you the truth.
But Kelly Severide's actions instantly halt his about face as he watches the determined fire fighter climb out of the hole and rest on the ground. He cocks his head, seeing a dark silhouette on the horizon and prepares to introduce a new twist into the hunter's game.
"Choose!"
"I can't!"
Josh looks at the conflict in Severide's eyes before him and grits his teeth. He was supposed to pick his father…this…this isn't the Kelly we remember. Matt's not his real brother, he knows that right? RIGHT?
As much as he knows he could close his eyes and still hit the target in the distance with a kill shot, his heart's begging finally gets through to his mind and forcing him to purposely aim for a body part that wouldn't render the victim dead instantaneously.
"What the hell!" Severide shouts as he turns and faces the masked man with anger flashing in his eyes. "Who was that?"
"Either your father…or it could have been Matt. He might have figured a way to escape my trap."
"What the…"
"Stop arguing with me! I told you to choose!" Josh levels the gun at Severide as Severide's hands quickly raise half way. "Go and save your father!" Josh growls and then curses himself for starting to unravel. What was it about these three that was forcing him to face his inner humanity and actually consider embracing it? Kill him and get it over with…one part of Josh's mind orders as his finger eases back on the trigger and Severide finds himself swallowing.
"Did you kill my father? Did you kill Matt?"
Josh don't do this. Walk away now, Luke's voice argues back.
"Go!"
"Where is ma…"
"Just go!" Josh shouts as he shoves the butt end of the gun a few inches closer to Severide; Severide's body instinctively stepping back.
"Please…"
"You have just enough daylight hours to get down this hill and up the top of that one before he bleeds out. Now GO!"
"Where is Matt? Please. I saw the trap with the blood. You took him right? What's this about? Where is he?"
"I won't tell you again."
"WHERE?" Severide shouts.
"He's DEAD!" Josh shouts back as he fires off another shot that misses Severide on purpose and forces Severide to flinch but hold his ground.
"He's not dead!"
"Why can't…why are you still here?"
"I'm not leaving Matt out here to freeze to death. Not injured. Is he in that shack?"
"Go!"
"Your voice…" Severide pauses with a heavy frown as Josh's inner mental warning bells go off, telling him to get out and get out fast before his cover is blown and he's in real trouble.
"Turn around right now. I will only ask once."
"Is Matt alive?"
Josh cocks the trigger once more, forcing Severide to finally nod and back up a few feet and slowly turn around and fix his eyes on the slowly moving figure in the distance and then turns around; only to stare at the empty space in shock. His mind hears his father calling to him the same time as Matt's. Get Matt…the shack is right there. Get him…and then get your father.
Josh watches from a discreet distance; expertly hidden, as Kelly Severide stands torn for a few seconds but then once again the younger Severide surprises him as he heads for the shack; leaving his fallen father to fend for himself a little bit longer. What the hell's he doing? I shot his father why is he…he's going for Matt Casey first?
XXXXXXXX
Severide didn't care where the mysterious hunter had gotten to and he knows that if the hunter so wanted, he'd already be dead. He spared my life for a reason…don't waste time. Get Matt! His mind was still trying to process the familiarity of where he heard the voice but as he hears a tormented call for help from Casey, his feet dictate his next actions.
Matt's right there…get him and then you can both help your father, Severide's mind reasons as he races for the shack; his heart and mind racing at the same time. Matt's injured…saw the trap…saw the blood…the hunter didn't deny it. Get him…get dad…
"Matt!" Severide calls out as he heads for the front of the shack; his left shoulder prepared to bust though and his mind not caring about where their hunter actually might be. But as soon as he busts through the door; he stops in shock, the rickety wooden door banging on the other side of the dusty wall and forcing small dust balls to dance into the air as only silence welcomes him.
"What the hell! Matt!" Severide shouts into the emptiness before him as he hurries for the small door before him, pulling it open and then cursing as he narrows his gaze at an empty bathroom; turning around and frantically scanning the room for any sign that Casey had been there and was moved. Nothing. No blood droplets. No signs that anyone other than him had been in there in maybe months.
"Matt!" Severide heads back for the front door and shouts into the biting cold before him; his eyes frantically scanning for any signs of the mysterious hunter. "Where is he you bastard!" He yells in anger.
Josh looks at him from his hidden vantage point and closes his eyes. This shouldn't be…it wasn't supposed to be this…this conflicted. Pull the trigger…walk away. Collect your money…disappear. Simple. Damn! I never should have come back. I should have stayed overseas…stayed with the tour…died in battle. Died with Luke.
"Matt!" Severide shouts once more before the wind nips at his throat and he knows he's almost out of time. He turns and looks back at the shack, not realizing that just on the other side of the hill; Casey's captive form was waiting for him to arrive. "Matt….buddy I'm sorry," Severide growls at himself as he turns and eyes the hilltop he presumes his father was and then starts to carefully make his way past the hole he had just climbed out of and then back toward the path he had first followed; his heart begging him not to leave Matt in the hunter's grasp. You have to go back. I can't! His mind argues back. Dad was shot. You don't know for sure. It's almost dark…Matt's hurt…he needs you. I know, his brow furrows as he pulls his phone; once again heavily cursing the fact that the reception was out – Josh's little device still blocking it on purpose.
"Dad!" Severide shouts as he finally crosses the boundary into their land; leaving the hunter and Casey behind – for now. But that wouldn't be for long and he'd damn the darkness as he would find his father, see about getting help and then go back for Matt with a flashlight in hand; he wasn't about to abandon him now.
Severide nears the top of the second hill, turning back to see a dark figure reappear and then disappear a few seconds later and feels his teeth instantly grit and his fists tighten. "I'm coming back for Matt you bastard," he whispers as he turns and races up the last few meters, reaching the top and stopping to catch his breath.
For a few selfish seconds, his mind and heart hope for someone else to have been shot but as he rounds the corner where the traps were left he sees some fresh blood and drag trails.
"Dad!"
"Kelly!"
Severide hears his father's soft cry and races in the direction of their cabin, stopping short with a small gasp as Benny suddenly emerges from behind a large tree.
"Kelly! Thank god," Benny utters in relief as he pulls his son into his arms for a brief embrace. "I heard the shot. Who got hit?"
"It was just a warning from this jerk playing games with us. Where are you hit?"
"My side. Bullet went right through," Benny shows him the bloody mess on his left side. "I'm okay."
"We need to g…"
"Kelly, where's Matt? Is he okay?"
"I don't know where he is," Severide answers with a heavy frown. "I need to get you back to the cabin and then I'm going to look for him.
"It's almost dark."
"I'm not leaving Matt out there!" Severide shouts and then slightly recoils. "I'm sorry. Dad…he, the hunter, said you know what this is about."
"What?"
"That's what he said. I asked him what he was doing this for and he said to ask you. What is going on?"
"Kelly I give you my word I have no idea."
"Dad this guy means business. You owe someone money? Slept with the commissioner's wife? Stole something important? Blackmail? What?" Severide presses with an angry growl.
"I don't know!"
"Matt's out there and hurt because of this. Tell me!"
"I don't know…I don't know!" Benny growls as they both slowly head back to the cabin, Severide helping his father as best he can. "He slashed all the tires, then he called and asked…he asked me to who I cared for more and to choose."
"What?"
"That's right. I also asked him what this was all about and that's all he said. To choose. I couldn't choose! I don't know what this is about, I swear to you."
"Damn! He asked me to choose also. Who I wanted to die, you or Matt."
"You picked me?" Benny smirks as Severide shakes his head.
"No I didn't choose either. He just shot. What is going on? Who is this guy? He had a mask on. Did he sound familiar at all?"
"Voice on the phone was muffled on purpose. I give you my word Kelly, I have no idea what this is about."
"Okay. You said he slashed all the tires?"
"One on my truck and Matt's and the spares. Phone's are also out. This guy means business."
"I think if he wanted us dead, we'd be dead. But who could have this big a grudge?"
"I don't…know," Benny wheezes as they reach the back deck of the cabin. "I saw the traps. Is that what you were referring to or was Matt shot? And if you knew he was…"
"I don't know where Matt is…or what happened. I came back, saw the trap with the blood on it and went looking," Severide confesses to his father as they slowly make it up the stairs. "Okay let me get the first aid kit from the back of Matt's truck, start a fire and…"
"I'm okay. You go and…"
"Dad…"
"Kelly, I'm fine," Benny insists as he looks at him seriously. "I've been through worse. I know it's getting dark and I want more than anything to tell you to stay here."
"Matt would do it for me and you know that! I can't leave him out there. He's hurt and…I just can't. You said rescue squad was the best job in the world. What good is that if I can't rescue someone I actually care about?"
"Fighting fires and rescuing a fallen man that you know where he is and what you are facing is different than going against and armed madman with hidden traps already set that you don't know where they are but he does!"
"I gotta find Matt, you know that."
"I do. But this guy…Kelly he's armed and you don't know what he's capable of."
"I fell down an empty well shaft, trust me I know what this guy is capable of."
"You what? Are you okay?" Benny asks in instant concern as his son nods in haste.
"Yeah I'm fine. I have to do this and you know it. We never leave a man down. Never come home with a man missing in the field. You taught me that!"
"Okay," Benny growls back. "Okay…I know I did. I am worried about Matt also but you gotta be smart about this; it's already snowing and getting darker. And what if he's already with this madman? You can't just knowingly walk into a trap. I'll lose you both and I won't risk it!"
"I'm going. I won't leave him out there alone."
Benny looks at the determined look on his son's face and knows, if it was someone he considered a brother; someone that close who would do the same in return, he would risk it all to bring him home alive. "Be smart about this Kelly! Don't let your emotions dictate your actions."
"Okay. Now let me get a few things. Hold on."
Severide hurries outside, heading for Casey's truck with a worried mind and determined pace. He tries to block out Matt's soft cries for help as he lay bleeding in the snow; slowly freezing to death as the temperature continues to slide. I'm coming Matt…you just better be alive when I get there.
"Okay it doesn't look too bad. Pad it well, keep this side up and…"
"I know what to do son," Benny remarks gently as his hand rests on his son's arm, forcing Severide to look up at his father. "I'll be okay, you just watch yourself out there. Slow and careful. Trust your gut. Listen to your head not your heart. There is no bargaining with this maniac. I want Matt back safe and sound also but you gotta play it smart."
"Just keep it warm in here and unless you hear my voice…"
"The door stays locked. Go bring your brother home," Benny replies with a small smile; the affectionate term Severide can't help but smile at.
"Okay be back soon."
Severide shoves a few first aid supplies in his pockets as well as two other flashlights before he rushes for the door; thankful that he was already dressed for cold weather. But as he stares out into the evil darkness before him, he feels his body offer a small shudder of anxious fear.
"Matt…buddy I'm coming right now. Just hold on," Severide whispers as he heads off into the night.
XXXXXXXX
Despite the pain shooting throughout his whole frame, sweat soaking his forehead, neck and back; Casey's mind tells him to keep going. He wasn't too far away from where Severide had been trapped in the empty hole, so despite the ear plugs he heard the shot; not as loud as Kelly or even Benny but enough to force his heart rate to skyrocket and his panic to surge.
If he shot Kelly…maybe Benny…I heard two shots. Maybe both? Are they both dead? This….this can't be…his mind spirals downward as he slumps back against the pole, finally feeling a bit of give in ropes keeping his wrists securing behind his back and the pole.
But it's not long before a cool breeze is felt on his face, his actions instantly halting; the floor reverberating with angry footsteps as they stomp in his direction.
"This can't be!" Josh's voice bellows; the loud angry tone causing Casey's body to slightly flinch, especially as the plugs are once again popped from his ears. "Why isn't anyone playing by the damn RULES!" He shouts at Casey's captive frame.
"mmmph."
"NO!" Josh's anger seethes at Casey. "I don't care what lies you want to tell me or how your simpering tone will beg for Kelly's life or even your own! FORGET IT! It's over…this….this was a mistake."
'Josh…you need to leave here and find the truth.'
"No Luke shut up! I'm done talking. Now it's time for business."
Casey's throat tries to swallow as he feels the gun shoved into his sweaty throat, his body not having any place to go to seek refuge of any kind. Josh's left hand wraps around Casey's throat; Casey instantly bringing up his bound ankles and trying to push his captor away. His struggling only subsides when he feels himself tiring; his lungs now gasping for air.
'JOSH! NO! DON'T KILL HIM!'
Josh tries to push aside Luke's warning; wishing he could just pull the trigger, put Matt Casey out of his misery and walk away.
"He's gonna come for you," Josh hisses. "You're not even his brother! Why the hell does he care so much?" Josh growls as he pulls back his hand and allows Casey to finally try to take in a few airfuls unhindered. "He'll come for you and when he does I'll KILL YOU BOTH!" Josh shouts as he pulls back further and looks at Casey's captive frame in anger.
Josh stands up and starts to put a few things away; Casey's mind racing with new found panic that his captor was setting another trap – one where he'd have to helplessly watch his best friend die and not be able to do anything about it.
"Hope you enjoyed your last meal," Josh lightly taunts as he packs up all his gear; careful to not leave anything at all…not even a single strand of dark hair that could be used against him or to find him. This whole mission was a failure. I'm a failure.
No you're not! Luke's determined voice is heard in his mind, making him pause in his task and watch Casey for a few minutes in surprised wonder. He gazes at the dark crimson stain on his jeans and the small pool of blood on the floor and ponders how he didn't even ask for something to help with his wounded leg. You did not fail; the strength of these two men…their close bond is forcing you to remember who you really are. You are not a paid killer, you can still walk away with your honor in tact!
"No I can't! I'm done…finished," Josh's voice drops as his eyes narrow at Casey before he rushes up to him once more. "See you in hell Matt."
No! Casey's head starts tries to reject the ear plugs once more; his mind cursing the fact that clear noise now become muffled whispers. He hears footsteps…angry, stomping footsteps that make the floorboards reverberate around him. He next feels the cold air on his face, his mind telling him the door was opened and closed. And then…
Silence.
Is he here? He's tricked me before, Casey's mind muses as he remains still for a few minutes longer. With the thick foam plugs in his ears he wasn't able to hear the controlled breathing of the skilled solider a few feet away – watching him in silence. Watching from his carefully hidden vantage point.
Watching and waiting.
Not caring if he was being watched, Casey's tired arms resume where they had left off, his aching frame leaning forward as best as he could and starts to rub the ropes against the edge of the thick wooden beam; Josh's mind forced to admire his sheer determination to get free.
Where are you Kelly? Josh's mind silently urges as he looks out the window with his night vision goggles and finally spies what he wants to in the distance – the green outline of a man heading in his direction.
It ends tonight.
XXXXXXXX
"Slow and careful," Severide mutters to himself as his left hand aims the flashlight on his path and his right uses the stick to check the path around for hidden traps. Aside from a few glints of lights coming from the other side of the lake, his flashlight was the only thing giving him some illumination in the otherwise thick dark forest.
"Matt…damn I hope you're okay," Severide continues his one man conversation as he tries to focus on the task at hand and not think about the bloody trap he had found and the fact that Matt was missing; because he knows if Matt were able, at all, he would find a way to get a message to him that he was okay.
"Damn bastard…who the hell is this guy?" Severide growls as he slows his pace as he nears the first hill to go down; knowingly bypassing the wagon with the traps in it and continues on. He carefully steps in the same tracks he and his father made coming up the hill; knowing they were already proven and if they were covered over he'd know to avoid a trap. He slowly starts to climb the hill that would once again bring him face to face with the horror that he had faced earlier.
'If this guy wanted us dead…we'd be dead,' his father's true words ring in his mind as he nears the crest of the hill and then stops to look around and listen. He never feared the dark or tense situations; even from a small boy and that carried on into adulthood. But his father was right – this wasn't just a routine squad operation where he has his team and more importantly Casey to cover his back.
Casey was the rescue and as he ponders what condition he'll find him in, his heart starts to race even faster. Keep calm and focus…deep breath and focus. Matt will be okay…just focus.
With that determination now coursing through his veins, Severide presses on; his steps starting to slow as he nears the area where the well is that he had crawled out of – not wanting to end up in there a second time for fearing it actually could become his final resting spot. He reaches the gaping black hole and stops to look around; his eyes scanning the blackness around him and cursing when he sees nothing.
"Damn it Matt, where are you?" He questions in desperation. "Matt!" He calls once more as he does a half turn. But as he turns back to face the hole, his breath catches as his sharp vision picks up something that wasn't there before. A light in the distance. At least he thought it was…his body pivots to the left, careful to keep the mouth of the hole on his right; his steps slow and careful.
"A light," he whispers as his father's words catch him once more.
'Use your head. Think. Don't act on emotion. He's a trained killer. Be smart. Think.'
Normally he'd just bolt ahead; Matt's silent absence driving him to want to rush in and rescue his friend before more harm befalls him. But knowing the hunter could still be out there and that he was still ultimately a target; he continues as he as up to now – slow and careful.
Severide's eyes dart down every few seconds as he continues to hit the path before him with the stick before his step covers the ground to make sure that he doesn't step into another ill-fated device that would impede his rescue. He comes up on the shack but knows that he saw the light past and from a different angle. To his left he sees nothing, but as he carefully crosses in front of the shack to the right, he sees the small light once again. The way the trees had grown had all but obscured his vision in the daylight; that and the fact that his captor at the time wouldn't allow him to step to the right to see the small building a few yards past the shack – the real structure his missing friend was being held.
"Matt…you better be alive," his teeth grit as for a few seconds he ponders the horrifying possibility that the hunter merely killed Casey and dumped his body somewhere out in the cold and dark. But he gives his head a shake and tells himself that his strong gut feeling is right – Matt's alive and just being held somewhere.
As he nears the front of the shack, he stops; his heart racing at top speed. He quickly pulls his phone and once again curses the fact that there was no service and he was still pretty much on his own. Taking on an armed madman – alone. I must be nuts…but I gotta keep going…gotta help Matt.
It wasn't even a question and there was no option or choice – he couldn't even try to get his father help and leave Casey at the mercy of whoever had caught him in the painful leg-hold trap. He nears the front of the cabin; his flashlight already turned off and stowed inside his jacket; his eyes unable to see the hunters smile, hidden in the shadows.
Severide heads for the first window and once again stops, wondering if he was making any noise at all or he could at least surprise Casey's captor – if he was still there and use the heavy stick in his hand as a weapon to render him at least unconscious until the authorities come.
He slowly stands up and then peers into the window and feels his heart instantly stopping. Matt! Oh god Matt…his mind silently gasps as he spies Casey tied to a beam in the middle of the small building; blindfolded, gagged and his leg obviously still seeping blood. His fists tighten as he looks at the door and ponders barging in. But is Casey alone? He looks into the room once more, his eyes trying to pick out every shadowed hiding place that someone could be hiding in.
Severide carefully ducks back down and then pulls back to the left, where there is no window and heads around to the back, narrowing his gaze as he tries to see if there's a back door he can use and maybe try to gain the upper hand. He finds one.
After he had determined the area was free of danger, Severide pulled his knife and rushed to Casey's side; desperate to free him and get him at least back to the cabin and take care of his wounds until real help arrived.
Casey's body once again tires as he slumps back against the thick wooden beam, his wrists feeling give but his limbs not having enough strength to actually pull himself free. But his actions once again seize as he feels a cool, stiff breeze rushing upon him. But this time it's from…the back? What the hell he's been here the whole time? Did he just leave now? Or maybe he's returned. It's not on my face its…his mind stops as heavy footsteps stomp toward him. Panic seizes him until the foam plugs are pulled from his hears and he hears the only voice he's waited for hours to hear; his whole body exhaling with brief jubilation.
"Matt!" Severide states in haste as he drops to his knees, pulls his small pocket knife and prepares to cut his friend loose. He gently tugs the damp gag free; his eyes frowning at the dried blood around the bottom right corner of his mouth.
"Kelly…" Matt gasps as the blindfold is gently removed and he blinks his watery eyes several times.
"Where else are you hurt?" Severide gestures to the small dried blood spots on his face.
"Just my leg. The blood transferred from my hands. I'm okay. Kelly, I heard the…shots. What happened?"
"We're okay. Just hold on," Severide moves down to Casey's feet, leaving his wrists for now as he carefully cuts away the ropes; frowning when Casey's lips utter a small gasp of pain when the rope brushes up against the chewed up skin. "Sorry."
"I'm okay," Casey tries to assure him as he finishes cutting Casey's feet free and then moves around to his wrists. "We have to get out of here."
"I know. Damn it Matt," Severide lightly scolds as he looks at the chaffed skin from where the ropes rubbed some of the tender skin raw.
"Well I couldn't just sit here…and do nothing," Casey manages with a small wince as Severide gently brings his arms to the front and lets him rest in his lap a few seconds longer.
"Where are your boots?"
"I don't know."
"Okay we have to…" is all Severide manages before he hears a noise; his head shooting up in seconds. "No…" his voice dies out as their masked hunter appears from a darkened alcove; his body dressed in brown the same as the trees outside and the rustic wooden panels inside the small cabin.
"Such a pity to have come so far and yet have it be for nothing!" Josh hisses as he cocks the trigger to his high powered weapon.
"You don't…have to do this," Severide states in a calm tone as he slowly stands up; Casey still on the floor leaning against the beam.
"Actually I do. You don't seem to understand that!"
"Kelly…help me up," Casey lightly begs as Josh once again is forced to stand in silent frustration and merely nod; watching as one man selflessly helps the other, despite the gun being pointed at him.
Severide wraps his arm around Casey's waist to help him stand; both of them facing the armed sniper – a silent but telling showdown in the dimly lit shack.
"What do you want?"
"I will spare his life," Josh pauses, "only if you offer yours willingly."
"Kelly, don't give in," Casey warns as takes a deep breath and looks at the masked man with a narrowed gaze. "Who are you? What is this about?"
"Choose! We all have to die but you get to choose which of you dies!"
"You might as well either turn the damn gun on yourself or shoot us both! I'm not choosing!" Severide growls back.
"Choose! You or him! You consider him a brother…fine! You or your brother! Which of you dies? And which of you lives?"
My death wasn't your fault Josh! Luke's voice struggles through the clouded emotion to be heard. If you kill them you'll be branded a killer…cold…hearted killer...I already am that, Josh's mind laments in return. There is no hope for me now. It's over. No…please…hear my voice…it's not too late. It's never too late.
"Please don't do this," Casey's tender voice brings Josh back to reality. His arm suddenly unentangles itself with Severide's as he pulls away and slowly stands in front of Severide.
"Matt no."
"You asked me…" Casey starts.
"Get behind m…" Severide tries as Casey holds his ground.
"You asked me if I would die for Kelly willingly. I would," Casey states calmly; his words ending with a small quiver of fear despite the fact that his heart was racing at top speed and body about to falter at any second. "You asked me!" Casey shouts; his throat trying to suppress a small cough that follows. "Is that what you wanted to hear!"
"I did."
"You have your answer. Pull the damn trigger and be done with it," Casey looks at him in anger.
"Forget it! You want to shoot someone you bastard, you'll have to be the one to choose!" Severide challenges.
"Fine!" Josh growls as his fingers ease back on the trigger and he prepares to fire.
"Matt…"
"Yeah Kelly…I know," Casey nods as both of them exchange a small, tormented exchange before looking back at their captor.
You can't do this. You can't kill them. You've asked them to choose and they won't. You can't just murder them. Please Josh for me…for my memory. Let them live.
Silence starts to grow…anguish fester and stubborn determination take hold; no one moving, each holding his ground and his firm resolve.
Find Don…find the truth…find peace. Go…now…please Josh. For me…for us.
*bang*
In the matter of seconds, darkness takes hold as the small light behind them is shattered; an odd thud follows, a cool breeze is felt and then silence starts to reign as king after the angry curse had dissipated into the icy nighttime air.
"Matt?" Severide dares to ask a few seconds later, his anxious tone punctuating the darkness. "You hit?"
"No," Casey answers in truth. "You?"
"No."
"What the hell was that all about?" Casey asks with a small groan as Severide's hands fumble for his flashlight; it being flipped on seconds later. Both of them look down at the spot where the beam had ended – Casey's boots and coat.
"He's letting us both walk out of here? Is it another trap?"
A/N: Okay so you can all breathe easy now right? Right? (evil grin—oops forget you saw that! Haha) oh you know I couldn't leave our boys parted for that long! So how did you like Josh's backstory? Josh isn't gone just yet but right now our boys need some tending to yes? So please do review before you go and thanks so much!
