Chapter 7: Beginnings
Third Person P.O.V
Casey, Dawson, and Shay all stand outside Addison's room, deep in conversation. They had returned to firehouse 51 after being told the extent of Addison's injuries and that there was no chance for visitors. They had given it a day and had all collectively decided to come back down. They all couldn't help but want to see her themselves and openly speculate as to what exactly had happened to her.
"Antonio is looking into it as part of a gang investigation, he told me he would keep me updated on what they find out." Dawson says, a subtle tone of hope in her voice.
"Gang?" Casey asks. "I just thought this was a case of child abuse. You're telling me the guy was involved with gangs as well?" he repeats with a look of surprise.
Shay scoffs. "With injuries like hers, it's not hard to tell there was more than one person beating up on her. It's amazing she managed to get away before they killed her." Her tone is dark and flat, but they all realize the grim truth in it.
"It would be nice to find out how she did it—how long has she been out, anyway?" Dawson asks, looking to her watch. "Jesus, almost thirteen hours." She shakes her head.
"Well her body has been through hell and back within the last two days—wouldn't surprise me if she doesn't wake up until tomorrow. With that much trauma..." Shay doesn't finish her thought, instead looking into the room they had moved her to.
Addison lays motionless, only her chest rising and falling rhythmically. She no longer breathes through the oxygen mask: a good sign, Shay and Dawson know. However, she sleeps curled into Kelly—he, at some point, clambered onto the bed and wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders and drifted off himself. His head rests atop hers and Addison in turn has an arm draped across his middle securely, her cheek resting on his shoulder.
"I had no idea how close Kelly actually got to her." Shay admits out loud to them. "It didn't occur to me how much she mattered to him until we were riding back to the hospital in the ambo after the second fire."
Dawson shakes her head. "I never expected any of this—I mean we're all told from day one to stay out of the business of those we save but…After everything we've found out about Addison, I can see why he couldn't stand idly by. Would've driven me nuts too."
Casey nods. "I've never seen this side of him…He's acting like, like…" he struggles to find the right word.
"Like her dad." Shay finishes the sentence for him and the three of them just continue to look, taking in the sight of the two of them.
Kelly's P.O.V
I sip my coffee while watching the soap opera playing on the TV mounted on the wall across Addison's room. It's dry and tasteless—everyone is sleeping with everyone, one child is secretly adopted, and another is plotting to kill their grandmother to inherit the family fortune. The usual.
Addie's still sleeping, has been for almost seventeen hours now. I woke up just over an hour ago and gingerly got myself out of the bed and down to the cafeteria without waking her.
The whole reason I wound up laying next to her to begin with was because of how she woke up: screaming with tears running down her face. She was completely incoherent, only making whimpers of distress and shaking her head furiously, as if trying to shake the bad dreams from her mind. I tried talking to her, holding her hand, and when I hugged her she finally seemed to calm down a bit. I didn't want to let her go, but also knew how exhausted she was. That's when I decided to squeeze in next to her, understanding she just needed to be held—I think because after all she's been through, she can't hold herself together anymore.
I look back to her, relief overcoming me once more. Thank God she got away when she did. If I had to watch her being carried away in a body bag…My stomach turns violently at the thought and I immediately shove it down. I can't think like that; she's here and she's going to be fine.
Matt, Leslie, and Gabby all stopped in earlier, offering their support but also wanting to have an update. I told them what I could, but as far as finding out what had happened to her in the moments leading up to us finding her, I didn't know.
While part of me is frustrated and anxious to find out what happened, another part of me doesn't want to know. I don't know if I'll be able to process all that potentially happened to her.
Voices from outside Addison's door catch my attention, pulling me from my thoughts. I stand from my seat, setting my coffee cup down on the tray next to Addie's bed. I stride forward and pull the door open a little more from its ajar position.
I poke my head outside the door and see Addison's doctor—Doctor Vincent, the one who told me I needed to get out of the way when we first came in—and another woman, in what seems to be a thoughtful conversation. The second woman is dressed in an impeccable pantsuit, with her dark hair pulled back in a slick, business savvy bun…she's the kind of woman I imagine doesn't smile much. Her whole demeanour screams 'don't play around with me'. What also catches my eye is the briefcase in her hand.
"Miss Hunter needs her rest." I overhear Doctor Vincent say, and that's all it takes for me before I decide I need to be involved in this conversation.
"Hey, excuse me." I say, and both women turn to look at me. "What's going on here? Why are you talking about Addison?"
Briefcase lady sighs heavily and sends an annoyed look to Doctor Vincent, as if she's let the cat out the bag too soon.
"I take it you're Kelly Severide?" briefcase lady asks me, a tired look on her features.
"Yeah I am. Who's asking?" I fire back, crossing my arms. I don't know what this lady is here for, but I know I don't like it.
"My name is Joan Walters, I'm with DCFS. Department of Child and Family Services." She tells me, and right away I feel my heart pick up its pace—if she's here then it can't be anything good.
"I know what the DCFS is. What I don't know is what you're doing here." I say, not able to keep my tone from being rude.
Doctor Vincent looks between the two of us and steps away, removing herself from the conversation.
"I'm here because Addison Hunter's care is a concern of the state of Illinois." She begins. "Being that one of her foster parent's is dead and the other is grieving and has refused to continue care of her, and the other children, I am here to assess Addison and get her ready to be moved to another home."
I feel the shock of this run through me, closely followed by anger. "Are you kidding me?" I burst. "She hasn't even woken up yet! She's laying in that bed because the guy you deemed 'suitable', beat her, kicked her, and chased her down with a gun! He was going to kill her!" I exclaim, stepping toward her.
"DCFS cannot be held responsible—" she begins, sounding like she's reading from a stupid pamphlet and all its fine print and disclaimers.
"My ass you can't be held responsible!" I seethe. "She had to live in that hell hole for months and look what happened because DCFS failed to ever give a damn!" I tell her, pointing to her room where she's still resting.
Briefcase lady can't help but look to Addison uncomfortably. "Look, DCFS sympathizes with Addison's situation. But protocol is protocol, and once she is ready to be discharged she will be transferred into another home. I'm here to oversee that process."
I shake my head. "No. No way. You can't just take her from one broken home to another." I say, adamant. "Did the doctor not tell you about the PTSD she's experiencing right now?" I ask her incredulously and briefcase lady just shrugs.
"DCFS does have access to counselling services if she needs it." She says simply, and I just laugh bitterly and shake my head.
"No, this isn't happening. You can't just take her!" I can't help but raise my voice. I close my eyes, inhaling a deep breath in an attempt to calm down. "Look, she's not leaving with you. I'm going to take care of her, so whatever you need to do to make that happen, do it." I say stiffly, and briefcase looks at me like I've lost my mind.
"Mr. Severide, you do realize you're asking to have temporary custody of Miss Hunter—" she starts but I cut her off.
"Yes I know what I'm asking! Just give me the damn papers and I'll sign whatever I need to." I say, glancing down to her briefcase still clutched in hand. I look back up to meet her gaze, she still looks taken aback.
"If that's what you want." She says and I nod.
"It is." I confirm.
For the next ten minutes I fill out several forms, signing and initialing more times than I can count. Briefcase lady tells me the terms and conditions of this temporary custody arrangement: I'll be seen as her legal guardian in the eyes of the law for a maximum of one year. After that one year is up I can either opt to have Addison put back in the system or apply for permanent guardianship that will recognize me as her guardian until she is 18 years old.
"That's the last of it." Briefcase lady says, gathering up the small stack of papers I had gone through. "From this point forward, Addison Hunter is in your care Mr. Severide."
I nod as we stand from the table in the cafeteria.
"Thank you." I say as she clips her briefcase shut.
She nods, still all business. "Best of luck Mr. Severide." She says before turning on her heel and walking towards the door.
I make my way back to Addison's room, head spinning. Part of me can hardly believe I just signed up to look after a 14-year-old kid for the next year, but another part of me knows that if this was the only way to keep her from going back, I'd do it a hundred times over.
I sink back down into the seat next to her bed. She's still sleeping soundly but looks better than a few hours ago. Some of the colour is returning to her face, her olive skin no longer pale and tinted that awful undertone of green.
I reach over, taking her small hand into my own. I squeeze it gently, wondering if maybe in her unconscious state she's able to tell that I'm here.
"Looks like it's just you and me now kid." I murmur, frowning when I wonder how much longer it'll be before she wakes up.
I finally make it to Boden's office after being stopped a dozen times by people passing by, wondering how Addison is. Everyone seems to be interested in her condition, rallying for her after what they witnessed outside her apartment building.
I raise my hand to the door, rapping my knuckles against it twice before opening it and peering inside.
Boden is situated behind his desk, eyes flickering up as I step in.
"Hey Chief, do you have a minute?" I ask him, closing the door behind me softly.
"What can I do for you Severide?" he asks, pushing himself back from his desk a bit in order to fold his hands over his middle.
I sink down into the chair across from him. "Well, you're going to be the first to hear this, but I just came from the hospital. Addison's still there, still not awake. But DCFS showed up, ready to take her away to another home as soon as she became conscious." I explain, the pang of anger hitting me again as I do so. "I couldn't…I couldn't let them just waltz in there and take her off to some other abusive, damaged home." I sigh heavily. "So I went through the paperwork and, well, I'm her guardian now—only for the next year; it's a temporary custody agreement. But I am." I finish, trying to gauge his reaction.
Boden is thoughtful for a moment before speaking. "That's a very commendable thing to do Severide. I can understand, why after everything you came to find out about her, why you felt a need to step in." he nods.
"Thanks Chief, it's just, well whenever Addison wakes up, I was hoping to take a day or two off just to help her settle into mine and Shay's place—I haven't even told her yet, but we'll figure it out. I just need some time to do that." I say, rubbing my hands against my pants anxiously.
Boden gives a solemn nod. "Sure thing Kelly. You take care of what you need to; I don't doubt the others will be willing to pick up the slack to make that happen for you and Addison."
I smile and rise from the chair. "Thanks a lot Chief." I say and he just gives a small smile.
"I'm sure she'll be happy to get the chance at some normalcy with you and Shay." Boden replies, and I give a strained laugh.
"Yeah, no kidding. Thanks again." I respond, and with that I leave his office, closing the door behind me once more.
I set out to find Shay and find her stocking the shelves of the ambo with Dawson. Both women look up at the sound of my approach, their faces lighting up in anticipation—probably hoping to hear that Addison's awake.
"Hey." I give a small wave. "Shay…Do you have a second? Wanted to talk to you about something." I say, and within seconds she's next to me on the ground.
"Sure, let's go." She says, putting her arm through mine and pulling me outside the doors.
We stop once we're a good distance away and around the side of the firehouse. Her blue eyes are spiked with interest, hands shoved deeply into the pockets of her vest.
"What's going on? Is this about Addison? Has she woken up?" she fires her questions at me and I give a laugh.
"Whoa, whoa, one thing at a time." I joke, and Shay rolls her eyes at me. "No changes in her condition, I mean she is looking better but she hasn't woken up yet. But yeah, this about her." I nod and Shay looks to me, shaking her head slightly in a 'go on' kind of way. "Basically DCFS showed up today and told me they were getting ready to transfer her to another home once she wakes up." I begin re-telling the rest of the story.
By the end of it Shay has mirrored the similar anger and frustration I had. "I would have done the same thing Kelly." She says and that fills me with a sense of relief. "Of course she can stay with us—she needs to be around people who care about her."
I break into a smile and pull Shay into a tight hug, kissing the top of her head. "Thank you, I was hoping you'd say that." I tell her and she giggles in my hold.
"Well I haven't let you down yet, have I?" she asks cheekily as we let go of one another and I look to her, raising a finger in mock warning.
"Don't push it Shay." I say and she laughs and punches me lightly in the arm.
We start walking back to the firehouse, entering the common room. The familiar buzz of chatter and the sound of dishes as Mills moves around the kitchen is comforting after all that's happened.
As Shay begins fixing herself a cup of coffee, I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. I reach in, pulling it out to glance down at the screen.
Immediately I answer upon seeing the caller ID.
"Hello?" I answer, and Shay looks to me in question as she sips her coffee.
"Kelly Severide?" the voice on the other line asks me.
"Yes, that's me." I confirm.
"This is Monica at Chicago Medical, I was told to call you about any updates on Addison Hunter's condition. I just wanted to let you know she's conscious and alert." I feel a weight I didn't know I'd been carrying lift off my shoulders.
"Great, thank you for letting me know." I say before quickly ending the call.
Shay looks to me with interest, and a few others have their eyes on me as well.
"Well?" she asks expectantly. "What was that all about?"
I feel a smile slowly spread across my face, and a sense of excitement beginning to build.
"That was the hospital." I say, and this immediately grabs everyone's attention.
The faces of Casey, Dawson, Cruz, Mills, Mouch, Hermann and Otis all look to me with increased curiosity.
"She's awake."
Addison's P.O.V
I wait in my bed with increasing anxiousness—I know they have called Kelly, but some awful, scared part of me wonders if maybe he won't bother showing up this time. If maybe he's figured out I'm just a magnet for bad luck and trouble, and his life would be made a lot easier without me in it.
No, he wouldn't do that.
I tell myself firmly, refusing to believe that someone as good as him would do something so hurtful.
Suddenly footsteps and voices prick my ears and I look to the door at the same moment it is swung open.
Kelly jogs in, a broad grin on his face. But he isn't alone: the blonde paramedic Shay comes in hot on his heels.
"Kelly," I breathe out in relief, a smile gracing my own features as I feel tears of happiness sting my eyes. I reach for him as he approaches my bedside, and he leans down to hug me tightly.
I close my eyes and the tears roll down my cheeks. It's like if I stay here long enough, maybe the broken pieces of me will fit back together.
"Hey kid," he says with a chuckle, his hand on the back of my head securely.
We pull apart and his face is blurry as I blink away more tears. He cups my face, thumbs swiping the tears away.
"Hey now, I think you've done enough of that." He says good naturedly and I can't help but laugh through the tears.
He releases my face and steps away just enough to let me have a good look at Shay standing behind him.
"You probably don't remember me." She says sheepishly, a smile gracing her pretty features.
"Of course I do." I say with a shake of my head. "You're Leslie Shay, you're one of the paramedics who's treated me the last couple times." I say and I outstretch my arms.
She seems a little surprised at my gesture, but steps forward and wraps her arms around me.
"Thank you for everything." I mumble, feeling more tears coming on. "I might not be alive if not for you." I say as she pulls away, and I see her eyes are shiny with her own tears.
I clutch her hand tightly and she waves a hand.
"Dawson deserves some credit too." She shrugs and I smile.
"Is she coming too?" I ask, not able to hold back the feeling of hope and excitement.
Kelly chuckles. "She's come by twice to check on you so far, so it wouldn't surprise me if she stops by again." He tells me and I feel my heart swell in my chest at this news; they all care, they actually do. "The whole firehouse has been jumping down my throat about getting updates on you."
I feel my eyes widen. "Seriously?" I ask and laugh a little bit. "That's so nice." I mumble in amazement.
"How are you feeling?" Shay asks me, her eyes looking over me and glancing up to my heart monitor.
I shrug. "Honestly, aside from the slight burning feeling when I breathe too deeply, not that bad." I say and they both look to me with saddened looks. "How bad do I look is the real question." I laugh and both their lips twitch upward.
"Do you…" Kelly sits down in the chair across from me. "I don't want to force anything before you're ready, but if you want to, you can talk about it. About what happened before I found you." He says gently, grey eyes sincere.
I feel my smile fade as the memories come back in a flood. "After I called you, I left the apartment." I begin. "I figured if Tucker and his goons were going to come after me, it should at least be away from the kids, so they didn't get mixed up in it." I take a deep breath, wincing slightly as that dull burning sensation hits me deep in my chest. "He was coming through the front doors by the time I made it downstairs. So I ran the opposite way and went out the back door." I recall my frantic breathing and the shooting pain in my leg as I pushed myself harder than I should have. "I didn't know where I was running, I just kept going. It was just so dark and I was crying and couldn't see anything." I shake my head and look down to where Shay tightens her hold on my hand. "I took a wrong turn and wound up at a dead end. Tucker and them all caught up, and honestly I don't know why he didn't just pull the trigger right then and there."
I look up to meet Kelly's troubled eyes, and I can tell that relaying all of this to him is just as painful, if not more so, as it is for me.
"What did he do?" Shay's voice is soft as she asks me this.
"He said they should have some fun with me first before they ended it. They threw me down, hit me, kicked me…I sort of went numb after the first ten blows. I could barely see since they had hit me in the head, but the fence I was backed up against had a small hole in the bottom of it." I explain. "I did what I could: kicked back, punched and pushed…It didn't do much, but it gave me enough to distract them with so I could inch my way closer to the opening." I tell them. "Then I got a good kick in on Tucker, right in the balls." I say with a satisfied grin, and I see Kelly and Shay looking amused. "That was the time I needed to pull myself through the hole. I scraped myself up pretty good against the pavement." I recall the feeling of my flesh dragging against it. "But I got up and started running again: that's when I found my way back to the main road. But Tucker and his guys caught up with me, I could hear them yelling behind me. When I heard your voice Kelly, I answered back, but I was wanting to get you away from me." I explain, the feeling of my haggard breathing coming back as I glance up to Kelly.
"Well I wasn't about to do that." He answers and I roll my eyes and nod.
"I should have expected as much." I say, and he smirks while I go on. "Then the shots rang out and…God, I thought Tucker had shot you." I shake my head, heart feeling heavy.
"I thought he'd got you." Kelly says and I bite my lip, trying to keep from crying.
"I couldn't stop thinking about how guilty I'd feel if I wound up being the reason both of us got hurt or killed." I blink and the tears stream down my cheeks in a trail of hot salt.
I feel Kelly's hand take hold of my other hand, getting up to sit on the edge of my bed.
"You're safe now. We both are. That's what matters." He says with conviction in his gaze and I nod.
"I know…It just…I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't been there." I sniffle and he squeezes my hand.
"Well I was. I'd do it again in a heartbeat, you know that." Kelly says with a gentle smile. I give a half-hearted laugh and nod gratefully, reaching up to wipe my cheeks. "By the way, another thing…" he glances over to Shay before setting his eyes on me once again. "A social worker from DCFS showed up a couple hours ago: wanted to prep you for transfer to another home." I feel my stomach plummet and hit the floor beneath me at the thought of having to leave here…Leave Kelly.
"Sounds about right." I say in a monotone voice. DCFS never fails to show up at just the wrong time.
"Well don't worry about it. I scared them off by…" he trails off for a moment, as if he's trying to figure out the right way to continue. "By signing some papers making me, well making me and Shay I guess, but mostly me, since I signed the forms," he rambles on, and it's the first time I've seen him act nervous. "Your temporary guardian." The words finally roll of his tongue.
I feel my whole face fall, my eyes widening as his words sink in. I bring my hands out of their grasp in order to cover my mouth as my eyes fill to the brim with tears. I close them, the wetness spilling over as a soft sob breaks through me.
Shay's hand goes to my back, rubbing it soothingly.
"Are you—are you s-serious?" I manage to get out between breaths and I look up to see Kelly with a smile on his face, nodding.
"Damn straight kid. You'll come live with us once you're given the green light." He confirms, and I feel my chest swelling so much it feels like my heart might burst with happiness.
I reach forward, wrapping an arm around each of them as the tears refuse to let up. I crush them to me and feel each of them wrap an arm around me.
Shay starts laughing, and Kelly and I do too as we grip one another in our group hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you," I whisper over and over again, not being able to comprehend the reality of what this means.
A/N: There it is! Kelly's taken on a new responsibility with Addison now legally in his care-which only begs the question if this transition will be smooth sailing or turbulent. Thanks all so much for the comments and following this story, it truly means so much to see that! Until next time!
Xoxox