Title: Plan D
Chapter 7 – Reality can be Dangerous


"Severide report!"

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"Severide!" Matt calls out as he crawls toward his friend, actually thankful that his screaming PASS indicator is leading him toward his target in the thick smoke. It had only taken a few seconds for the flashover to ignite, sending the small band of firefighters scrambling in all different directions. However, it had ignited a small oxygen tank and the next thing he knew he was flying through the air – seconds after Kelly had been picked up and tossed around.

"Hey! Kelly!" Matt calls his friend's name once more as he finally nears him; his mind uttering a small sigh of relief as he notices his friend's dark form slowly moving.

"Yeah…here. Chief…got my bell rung…but I'm okay," Kelly huffs as he rocks himself to a seated position with Matt's help. "You?"

"Yeah…come on!"

Both of them get onto their knees and start to slowly crawl toward what they hope is a clear exit; Kelly's lungs slightly aching and his head pounding. However, just before they reach the entrance, a loud crack is heard and both look up just as a few burning timbers rain down up on them.

"Casey!" Kelly shouts as he tries to push Matt out of the way. But he isn't able to all the way because of the lack of space and can only watch in horror as his friend is buried beneath charred pieces of wood. "Chief! Casey's down! He's trapped! Need some…help!"

Kelly leaves the call with Boden to dispatch help and then starts to frantically work at plucking away some of the timbers keeping Matt's frame pinned to the floor. But the heat starts to lick at his neck each time he strains forward to remove some of the smoldering timbers.

He lets Matt's personal indicator continue to scream in an attempt to draw others to his location in an urgent manner. "Casey! Come on…buddy," Kelly grunts just as he feels the timber he's lifting suddenly spring into the air. "Cruz! Take that one!"

"Copy that!"

Herrmann and Mouch work on clearing away the last of the timbers while Cruz helps Kelly yank Matt free.

"Casey! Ah damn it he's…Casey! Come on…we gotta get him outta here!"

"Chief we're bringing Casey out and he's unresponsive. I repeat…unresponsive!"

Kelly mutters under his breath as he holds onto Casey's arms, Cruz behind carrying Casey's legs while Herrmann and Mouch lead the way out. Once outside and after Matt is deposited onto the stretcher, steps back and let's Brett and Mills work on getting him set up for transport.

"Kelly…what happened?"

"I think the tenant…had some additional oxygen tanks in storage. The flashover triggered them. Didn't see until it was too late."

"Okay. Go with Casey, we'll finish up here."

Kelly nods and then hurries toward the ambulance just as Matt is being loaded into it. But just before he gets in, he pauses and looks around, an odd feeling of…being watched? Starting to settle upon him. His eyes frantically scan the area for something out of place but tells himself it's just him being paranoid and it's nothing – Matt's his first priority right now.

But as the ambulance starts to pull away, the female figure steps out from behind the curtain and looks at the ambulance and then her attention focuses in on the firetrucks and she smiles; a few seconds disappearing from view.

"We've got a slow but steady pulse," Mills tells Kelly as he looks at him in wonder. "I think he just got his bell rung."

"'kay…thanks," Kelly mutters as his hand reaches up and gingerly touches the back of his neck; his eyes lifting to see Mills staring at him in wonder and then gesturing with his eyes. "Small scuff, nothing major."

As soon as they reach Chicago Med, Kelly hangs back as Matt is wheeled into the ER to be examined and then treated accordingly.

"Kelly?"

He turns to see Jay walking up to him with a questioning glance. "What's going on?"

"You here alone?"

"Erin's in with the landlord of…what happened?"

"Matt was injured but I think he'll be okay. So what's going on?" Kelly presses once more.

"Her name is Greta Samuelson and she tried to kidnap Aurora."

Kelly hears his wife's voice and turns to look at her in surprise. "And…you got her?"

"No. We went to her apartment…the one she lived a year ago to see if there was anything we could learn. The landlord suffers from seizures and we got there just in time. He didn't have a forwarding address but said when she was on her meds she was a great mother and wife. But after her daughter and husband died…life fell apart for her."

"So…she's still out there?" Kelly asks as he looks from Erin to Jay; who both nod in agreement.

"I'll go see if he has anything more to add."

"Is Matt okay?"

"He will be. So…this woman…do you have any leads?"

"Not many. At least we have a name and a picture. But…she's gotten used to hiding herself away from society for the past year. We'll find her," she states with a hint of uncertainly in her voice. "We sent the details to Boden. You sure you're okay?"

"Yeah I'm fine just uh…I know you'll find her."

"You always used to say you hated when I'd tell you…'we'll find them or…these things take time'…like we just couldn't work fast enough…"

"Erin…"

"Trust me it makes me angry to hear that also."

"And I know you'll do that," Kelly replies with a strained smile; looking up as Jay approaches. "I think that…"he stops just as Erin's phone buzzes to life.

"He's sedated now," Jay tells them with a small frown as Erin pulls back to talk to Voight. "Hope Matt's okay."

"Yeah…" Kelly nods at he hears Erin's sharp gasp and then turns at the same time as Jay to look in wonder.

"There was another attempted kidnapping!" She states frantically before she turns and runs toward the exit – the opposite direction from her husband with her partner in tow.

You can't go with her…his mind reminds him as his booted feet take a step toward the exit.

"Kelly! What's going on?"

"There uh…" he stammers as he turns and looks at Mills with a frown. "Is Matt awake?"

And without waiting for Mills to answer Kelly gently pushes past and heads towards Matt's room with a head full of agitated steam. He pushes his way into Matt's area, Mills following at a discreet pace but showing signs of worry nonetheless. Kelly looks at the doctor still tending to Matt and turns back to see Mills looking at him in wonder.

"The uh…woman who tried to kidnap Aurora…at least I think it was her…Erin didn't say," Kelly growls as Mills brow furrows.

"Is Aurora okay?"

Kelly hears Matt's soft plea and turns back to see his friend looking at him with a strained glance.

"Yeah…she's fine. I don't even know if it's the same woman who they're going after now…I don't know anything except the longer she's out there the worse it'll be for anyone with a child that looks like hers. Erin said her deceased daughter looked like Aurora. How are you feeling?"

"Sore…" Matt huffs as he slowly sits upright; the doctor pulling back to write up a simple prescription for his shoulder pain. "No major damage so it's all good. Kelly…"

"I'm fine. I just…gotta keep my mind busy until Erin lets me know or…can he go now doc?"

"He can. I've told him he should stay off shift the rest of the day. He had the wind knocked from him pretty good but no ribs were broken and no internal damage."

"Good to hear."

"Think…I'll get changed and go see Andrea. She's working on a summer project for the drop in center."

"Okay."

"You know…you also got your bell rung," Casey politely reminds him.

"I'm…I'm okay…I can't just go home and listen to silence and I can't come with you and be a third wheel," Kelly smirks. "I'll be okay until I get Aurora."

The two of them leave the ER; Brett and Mills already heading for their ambulance and all of them heading back to Firehouse 51. On the ride there, Kelly's mind can't help but wonder if indeed the woman Erin got the frantic call about is Greta Samuelson, the woman who tried to kidnap his beloved daughter.

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"What happened?" Erin asks Voight in haste as she rushes toward him with a frantic expression. Erin looks over at the mother and father hunched over their crying daughter and feels her stomach instantly tighten. For a few seconds she sees herself there…Kelly at her side both of them huddling around a crying Aurora.

"Erin…" Voight's voice mentions softly, pulling her stormy gaze upward. "The girl is safe…"

"Where is Greta?" Erin questions in haste as Voight's radio cracks to life.

"We lost her in the tunnels!"

Erin's lips purse at hearing Antonio's voice and a small curse escapes in a quiet whisper.

"The Canine team is almost there!" Voight's reply, thick with exasperation makes a few eyes lift in his direction.

"I'm starting to think she's back on her meds and knows exactly what she's doing!" Erin hisses as she turns and looks at the family in frustration.

"But she's getting desperate and more brazen…next time she'll…"

"There shouldn't have to be a next time!" Erin interjects with a hiss as the teary eyed mother looks at her in misery. "Where was she last seen?"

Voight pulls out a map just as his radio cracks to life once more.

"We're going in."

"Lindsay, Halstead and I will head for the south end, hopefully we can cut her off. Let's go!"

XXXXXXXX

Andrea Casey hears some soft shuffling and looks up to see her husband hovering in the doorway to the kindergarten class she normally teaches during the school year; the area now turned into a summer project space.

"Matt?"

"Hey…" he greets as he nears her with a small smile. She slowly stands up and heads toward him, her heart beating rapidly as her mind races with wonder.

"Hey baby what's wrong? Are you…"

"I'm fine," Matt replies as he pulls her into his grasp. "Got the wind knocked out but otherwise…Kelly was there to save the day. Rescue squad earned their keep today."

"Not funny," she huffs as her cheek presses against his.

"Chief gave me the rest of the day just to rest up a bit. So…need some help?"

She pulls back and arches her dark brows as a small smile tugs at her mocha lips. "You…wanna make some popsicle people?"

"I'm the popsicle people making ninja," Matt replies with a shrug and grin. "Show me where."

"Of course…over here."

The two of them head for the desk with colorful supplies littered all over it and sit down, Matt taking his wife's hand and holding it firmly as they share a tender moment.

"I…have some news of my own," Andrea tells Matt with a soft whisper as her free hand drops to her belly.

"But…what? Really?" Matt asks with a growing smile.

"Daddy Casey," she whispers as she leans in and kisses him on the lips.

"Love you so much."

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"Thought I'd bring them by for dinner break," Pauline tells Kelly as Aurora bounds past them and gives Cruz a big bear hug.

"I think she's smitten," Kelly teases.

"Can you blame her?" Cruz wags his brows as Aurora gives him a bright smile before asking to be taken to Pouch.

"And how's my boy," Kelly grins at Cameron who instantly responds to the sound of his father's comforting voice. He plucks his son from his carrier and holds him in the air; the little baby boy instantly squealing with delight. Kelly pulls his son back to his chest and gently bounces him while Cameron's fingers latch onto the folds of his blue shirt and try to pull it toward his mouth. "Goober," Kelly grins as he plants a tender kiss on his son's head and hugs him tightly.

"How's Matt?"

"He went to pick up Andrea and then…" Kelly's voice trails off with a shrug to Boden as they chuckle and Herrmann ambles up to them, making silly faces for Cameron. But when Aurora laughs instead, Herrmann's grin widens.

"At least someone appreciates good antics," Herrmann retorts as he tosses Kelly a mocking glare.

However, before any of them can say another word, Otis pipes up with an urgent message.

"Erin's on TV!"

All eyes including Aurora's turn to the TV to see what's going on with the CPD; Voight stepping up to the camera to give an update on their newly escaped kidnapper. Kelly can only inwardly curse the fact that Greta evaded capture yet again but doesn't want Aurora to be too agitated by the news story so just before they show a picture of Greta he tries to distract her.

"Erin!"

"Yeah she's…"

"And grampa Hank!"

"Correct so how about we go and see what Mills is making us for lunch? I think him and Auntie Gabby are having another one of their famous cook-offs!"

Boden of course instantly tunes in to why Kelly wants to keep his daughter from seeing her kidnapper again and scoops up the little girl into his strong grasp and carries her into the kitchen; Cruz smacking Otis on the arm.

"What?"

"That's the woman that tried to kidnap Aurora!"

"Oh…" Otis grimaces. "I didn't know her name…"

"Well…now you do," Cruz retorts firmly.

"Thanks Chief," Kelly whispers in an undertone as Aurora breaks free from Boden's grasp and runs up to Mills and Dawson who are preparing lunch; Dawson asking for Cameron and taking him with a smile.

"How is she?" Boden asks Kelly about his daughter.

"She had a session with Margaret the other day and was…quiet as usual. She's like Shay that way. Pauline told me Shay was the same. If something really bothered her or was traumatic she'd be like…yeah fine and then one day just…blow up. But I think it helped a little," he concludes with a frown as Pauline walks up to them. "Everything okay?"

"Don's running a little late but otherwise it's all good. I'm going to take them to Cindy Herrmann's and…"

"Really?" Kelly asks in surprise.

"Yeah they're having a small neighborhood daycare…party…thing," Herrmann walks up to them. "Aurora can hang with Kenny James for a while and meet some new friends."

In the past, the suggestion of sending Aurora to the Herrmann's house wasn't that big a deal, even with new people around them. But now…knowing that Greta Samuelson was on the loose and he couldn't control who would be there sends him into a silent panic.

"I uh…" Kelly stammers as he looks over at his daughter trying some of Mills chili and then giving him the thumbs up.

"Kelly,we'll be there too," Pauline assures him as he looks at her in haste.

He shakes his head and then looks at Herrmann apologetically. "I know you'd never purposely put her…ah sorry man I'm just spooked over all this. Seeing the TV…the words still at large…" his voice trails off in a soft whisper as Cameron starts to fuss.

"Trust me I get it," Herrmann nods.

"Which is why I already talked to Voight about it and there is going to be an undercover officer among them."

"Really?"

"A large gathering of children is a lure for a few with nefarious ideas," Boden huffs. "Always tough to admit but sadly the world we live in."

"Course…now I feel selfish. Herrmann I never meant to infer the others weren't…" Kelly starts only to have Herrmann put up his hand to stop him.

"After what happened I can't blame you. No offense taken," he grins. "We'll just get you and Erin to babysit for us one day."

"The whole clan?" Kelly retorts weakly as all within earshot laugh.

"You'll never have another," Hermann chuckles. "They'll be fine."

"Okay…I'll tell Aurora. I'm sure she'll have fun," Kelly utters weakly as his daughter tugs on his arm.

"Why was Erin on TV?" Aurora asks as Kelly kneels down to her.

"Work stuff sweetie. Okay so you'll be a good girl and stay by Gramma Pauline and don't go anywhere without her okay?"

"Okay daddy."

"Good girl," he whispers as he kisses her on the cheek and then slowly stands up, offering Pauline Shay a strained smile. "I'll uh…check in later."

"Okay."

She won't tell him not to worry as she knows it's only natural and she can't fault him for that in any way; it was better than being too cavalier. However, she had already promised him and her husband that she'd never let Aurora out of her sight despite the fact she knew and trusted Cindy Hermann. But as Wallace Boden correctly stated…it was everyone else watching…especially those the police couldn't see that worried them all.

Kelly takes his son back from Dawson and slowly walks with Pauline out to the car; Aurora holding her grandmother's hand and skipping beside her. "Alright goober…see you later," he whispers as he kisses his son on the cheek, the bright blue eyes looking up with an adoring glance.

"Be a good girl for gramma."

"Okay."

Kelly gives Pauline a friendly nod before she slips into the car; the vehicle slowly pulling away from the parking lot a few seconds later.

"She'll be okay," Boden whispers as he claps Kelly on the shoulder before he turns and heads back inside. Kelly watches until the car disappears from view and then pulls his phone to text his wife.

They'll be okay…

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However, on the other side of the city…another plan was about to be put into motion – one no one would see coming.

He sits in his cell….his dark eyes darting between the escape route and the tiny piece of paper in his grasp. He looks down at it once more.

'We go tonight. Midnight. One guard. As planned. Be ready.'

And with that Warren Sandecker puts the small slip on his mouth and swallows, an evil smile forcing his smile to broaden.


A/N: you know I love my tension but don't worry I'll get us back to the happy family moments but….where is Greta really? What about Sandecker? Will he really escape? Yup a baby for Matt and Andrea on the way and a bit of danger for the boys. Lots ahead and hope you're all still on board with us. RL has been so tough and some of my friends were caught in that horrific fire in northern alberta (not sure who was watching the news) so things have been stressful but had a few moments to myself to get this finished and hope it was a bit okay! Please do review and thanks so much!