Title: Ending the Feud?
Chapter 10 – Recovery & Rebirth?
A/N: well we have reached the ending to this little adventure ficlet and I'm so glad that so many of you liked it and supported! Means so much and your reviews helped it grow to 10 chappies. Real life has been a beast as of late so I do apologize if I missed anyone with an account with a personal thank you! To newperson, Cynthia and various guests who I cannot thank personally as always THANK YOU – your continued encouraging support means so much (and hope I hear from you all in future Kelly/Erin stories)! So please do enjoy and thanks so much!
"Kelly! You stay with me!" Erin states with a panicked tone as her husband's hand goes limp in her grasp and his eyes slowly close. "Kelly!"
Casey gently pulls her back to allow the two medics to tend to his friend; both of them watching with worried glances, Benny hovering a bit too close.
"He's my son!" Benny barks when one of them tries to get him to give them more room. But he does comply, stepping back and rubbing his face as he watches with a watery gaze.
"Sir we have a pulse. Let's get him ready for transport!"
"Copy that!" The other medic answers readily.
Erin looks up at Jay, her eyes begging for an answer on Drew Sheppard. "Where's Drew?"
"He…he came back here. I thought you guys had him," Halstead replies as he looks at his partner and then at his boss. In that moment all of them turn and look into the burning room; the realization that Hadley might have ordered Drew into the burning room to help get him out and then…then what? Neither of them escaped and it wasn't that feasible to think that, despite Drew making a few mistakes, he'd offer himself willingly to burn alive for Kevin Hadley.
"We'll wait until the fire's out and then see what we have left," Casey suggests as the medics tell them Severide is ready for transport. Casey had texted Shay when he called for the other medics and she said she'd meet them at the hospital. Voight tells Benny to go with Erin and Casey with Kelly to the hospital and that he and Halstead would stay behind to preserve the scene until Benny Severide could return to assess the situation and exactly how many dead bodies they had left to deal with.
Erin's hand remains clasped with her husband's as long as she's able to walk beside him but as soon as the tunnel narrows once more, she's forced to fall back, hurrying behind and praying that none of her husband's internal injuries are that severe.
"He'll be okay," Casey offers in a soft whisper. But even as the words escape past his lips, they waver, prompting both Erin and Benny to look at him and then trade uneasy glances. They finally reach the surface; the teams of firefighters rushing past them a few minutes back to put out the rest of the smoky flames that continue to fill the small space with chocking flames.
They load Severide into the back of the ambulance; Erin and Benny on either side while Casey follows in Benny's truck.
Erin's watery gaze fixes on her husband's unconscious face while her fingers reach for a cleaning cloth and start to gently clean the small cut on his stubbled cheek. "You hate me fussing over you in public….so uh….you gotta wake up and tell me to stop," she softly begs as she quickly sniffles and then swallows back a sob. For a few seconds his eyelids flutter and her heart starts to skip. But the medic states it just a reaction to the morphine.
"He has a slow but steady beat…I'm hopeful."
But then a few seconds later his body starts to gently buckle as his lungs start to heave.
"Kelly!"
"Damn…hear that? Could be a punctured lung!"
Erin can only sit back helplessly and watch as the two medics in the back frantically work to stabilize her husband. One says he should be okay but that's little comfort as she hears him struggling to breathe and then utterly collapse under their medical care.
They reach the hospital and Benny hurries to talk to Shay who is anxiously pacing the ER emergency surgery area; Casey entering a few seconds later while Erin's pace matches that of the rushing medics – right into the ER operating room.
She reluctantly hangs back and listens to the medics frantically calling out about the possibility of the punctured lung and feels her eyes water as they prep him for immediate surgery.
"Benny," she whispers as her father in law's arms pull her in for a brief but comforting hug. In truth, he was trying to be strong for her as seeing his boy on the operating table was ripping him apart as well. After that they are told to just wait outside until they're finished; joining Casey and Shay in the waiting area.
XXXXXXXX
About twenty minutes later, Erin looks up to see Voight and Halstead entering the ER area; her, Benny and Casey standing up to see what they had found.
"Did you find his body? Is Kevin Hadley dead?"
"Yes," Voight answers gruffly as he holds up a small baggie. "It's a small pin of his badge number. Hadley was wearing that when I saw him – both times today," Voight confirms as Halstead nods. "The body was badly burned…could see some red hair and the same clothing but the rest was…well dental records can confirm for sure."
"And Drew?"
"We found another body. Drew was trapped and he knew it. He had the fire before him and me behind him," Halstead replies in truth. "He never came back out toward me. And if you guys didn't see him then he got caught in the fire and was overcome by the smoke."
"He thought Hadley had a way out?" Erin retorts.
"The last message to his phone was a text from Hadley. We're trying to get the phone records and his phone is being looked at right now. Hopefully it'll provide the last piece to the puzzle but at least Hadley's confirmed dead."
"Without Hadley pulling the strings, if Drew Sheppard's still alive we'll find him but right now you need to worry about Kelly," Voight tells her firmly, giving her a hug and then pulling back as the doctor emerges from the ER surgical area.
"Doctor, how is my husband?"
"He's going to be okay."
"Thank God," she whispers her lips try to twist upward. But when she hears about the collapsed lung, two broken ribs, surgery to repair the tear from the rebar and a nasty head wound. "Can I see him now?"
"Yes…of course."
Erin pulls away and hurries into the small room; Casey and Benny following but knowing they won't stay as long as Erin, Shay hovering outside the door and peering in at her one time roommate and forever bonded buddy.
Severide's weary mind recalls Hadley's merciless taunts and haunting words; the cursed vows and then finally the final cursed scream. He hears his wife's voice…his friend's…his father…Hadley's…his own…silence. His mind drifts in and out of consciousness before he hears the somewhat unfamiliar voice…the doctor…the voice becomes more familiar until….
"Kelly?" Erin's soft voice breaks through the emotional mire of his mind, making his eyes flutter open and look up at his wife looking down.
"Hey…beautiful," he manages weakly; his lips trying to crack into a smile. "Had…ley?"
"He's dead," she tells him confidently. "Doctor said you had a partially collapsed lung and um…damn it Kelly, don't you ever do that to me again!"
Her voice drops to a tormented whisper as she leans in and wraps her arms around his neck and shoulders, her cheek pressing against hers, a few tears sliding down her flushed cheeks while her lips plant a kiss on the side of his face. "You can't ever leave me…you're the best part of my life," she whispers as the arm that didn't sustain the bruising wraps around her back and holds her trembling frame close.
"Love you…more than…anything," he confesses as she pulls back and then looks down with a teary gaze. "It's…over now."
"I'm glad…I'm glad he's dead. I need you to be okay. You have to tell me that."
"Needy," he gently snickers as she nods. "I'm gonna…be okay. You can…nurse me back…to health," his voice strains as the doctor approaches them.
"He's taken in a lot of smoke and needs some fresh oxygen. You can stay," he tells Erin directly, "but I have to request no more talking for at least the next few hours. The puncture wound was small and there was a tear that had to be repaired and although the surgery was a success I'm recommending that he stay here at least another whole 24 hours. After that we'll do some deep breathing checks to assess the recovery progress but he'll be off work for at least two weeks."
"Damn!" Severide utters a whispered curse.
"Lots of vacuuming," Erin teases as Severide's aching lungs try to swallow back a laugh.
"Don't…tell…Shay."
The doctor leaves to get the fresh oxygen mask; replacing the tubing currently in his nose. His father says a few supportive words as does Casey; the two of them happy he's going to be okay but still worried that he's not working out with them that night. Shay comes in to give him a big hug and then they all turn and take their leave; each of them going their separate ways but planning to come by the next day.
Shay goes in search of Dawson and Mills, while Benny joins Voight and Halstead, returning to the scene of the current crime – hoping it's cool enough for them to get into the burn space and see what else was left for them to put together as clues to Kevin Hadley's last moments on earth.
Casey heads downstairs to see his wife.
"I just heard. Is he okay?" Hallie asks in concern as her arms throw themselves around her husband's neck and she gives him a brief but passionate kiss on the lips.
"He's going to be okay. A few broken ribs and a small puncture to his lung but the rest just looks worse," Casey informs her as he rubs his face. "Damn…Hadley…it was a fight to the death and he didn't care who he took with him."
"Is Hadley…"
"He's dead," Casey replies; his reply based off the information gathered (but not medically confirmed) so far. "How is it here?"
"Good. Come and sit down and rest. I'm off shift in an hour."
"I'll wait," Casey holds her close, kissing her cheek once more before he pulls away and looks at her tenderly.
About a half hour later, Erin's eyes snap open; her mind hearing Hadley's mocking laugh and forcing her body to shiver from head to toe. "Bastard…" she whispers as she slowly pushes herself up out of the chair and then heads over to the small table, taking a soft cloth to clean her husband's face.
Severide's senses pick up a familiar scent and he slowly opens his eyes to see his wife's beautiful face hovering over her. She smiles and he can't help but feel his heart skip a small beat as the dimples start to tempt him.
"Shhh now," Erin states in haste as he tries to talk. "The doctor might kick me out," she whispers as she kisses him on the lips. "I just uh…I have to do something…sleeping…I hear Hadley and…" her voice trails off as his hand reaches out and gives hers a small squeeze. At first his limb is cool in her grasp and it makes her heart start to ache. "I know it's over now and…and he's dead and you're here."
She gently cleans the rest of his face, kisses him on the lips and then whispers goodnight once more before curling back up into the nearby sleeping chair, taking his hand and holding it tightly. "Love you."
XXXXXXXX
The next morning, Severide's tired eyes slowly awaken and look over to see his wife still asleep a few feet away. He longs to feel her body next to his…the two of them side by side, just being together. About two hours ago, the doctor had come into the room and removed the oxygen mask, replacing it with the nose tubing to give his beleaguered lungs some extra fresh air to revel in for the rest of the day.
As he slowly lifts his left hand he notices that something very distinct is missing from his hand. I left my ring as a clue….the fire…she didn't find the ring…damn it! But before his mind can sink any further into emotional despair he hears a soft voice and looks over to see his wife looking at him with a soft smile.
"Looking…for something?"
"Was hoping…you'd find it. Can I have…it back?"
"Yes on one condition. Kelly Severide…will you marry me?" She asks tenderly as she holds up his gold wedding band.
"Yes," he answers firmly as he takes her hand and brings it to his lips. "Think I'll survive…the wedding night?"
"No way," she playfully growls as she leans in and kisses him on the lips; his mouth splitting into a wide grin. "How are you feeling?"
"Some tightness…" Severide admits as they both look up to see the doctor enter followed by a respiratory technician. "Guess we'll see…"
"Morning Mr. and Mrs. Severide. Okay…so let's see how things are this morning."
Erin steps back while the doctor tends to her husband, her mind drifting between his recovery timeline and thoughts about getting closure for Hadley but when the doctor starts to test his breathing she pays rapt attention. About ten minutes later, the doctor tells her that he sounds better but will keep him one more day just to be absolutely sure.
"So Matt's on his way here and I'm going to just check in with Hank and then get home and freshen up…" her voice trails off as she looks at him in concern; the doctor already having left the room. "I wish you were walking out of here with me right now but I know I'm being selfish."
"Needy."
"Damn you," she retorts with a low growl as she leans in for another kiss. "Rest up. I'll be back as soon as I can."
Just as soon as she pulls up, Casey enters the room, looking a bit more rested also. "Now I can leave."
"She's paranoid."
"With reason," Casey agrees as Severide rolls his eyes. They both watch Erin take her leave and then trade tired glances. "Did you sleep at all?"
"Not much…you?"
"A little," Casey replies in truth as he eases himself down into the sleeping chair. "This thing…is kinda comfortable," he chuckles as Severide gently smirks. "Have you heard from your father?"
"No. You?"
"Only last night," Casey admits in truth. "Same as you. They found the bodies and Hadley's…personal items. None of us saw him leave and Voight said he saw him fall backwards into the fire pit. Hadley's dead."
"Good…riddance."
The two of them talk a bit longer before both of them close their eyes and get a few hours of solid rest. When Casey opens his eyes next, he looks up to see Benny Severide entering the room with a brief smile as he motions to Casey that he'll just wait until his son wakes up. Casey closes his eyes once more, while Benny sits watch over them both. But it wouldn't be long before both of them would be up, talking about all that happened recently and moving forward – finally.
Erin nears her husband's hospital room a bit later than she had planned. After she had gotten home and showered and changed, Voight called her into the office to show her what they had found at Hadley's – the phone that had recorded her husband's captivity in the darkened tunnel. After that she returned to the scene of the crime just to see for herself that there was no way out and that Kevin Hadley could not have survived. The room was still hot and somewhat dark but there 'appeared' to be no way for him to escape. Kevin Hadley's dead.
"Hey…" Severide looks up from his discussion with his father and Matt; smiling broadly as his wife approaches. His hand reaches out and as soon as their skin touches, she's instantly flooded with relief as his limb is warm on its own instead of cool to the touch.
"The M.E. is going to close the file on Hadley," she informs them with a heavy sigh as she leans against her husband's bed; their hands still clasped.
"Good riddance," Benny chirps as he slowly stands up, slapping Casey on the back and offering them all a friendly smile. "I'll see you all later."
"I gotta run too. Hallie's last night shift and we're finally able to go away for our anniversary for a few days."
"Ah man…right."
"Hey, I blame Hadley not you," Casey states with an easy smile as their fists clasp. "I'll see you in a few days."
"Right buddy, take care and enjoy."
"Plan on it," Casey grins widely, giving them both a gentle eyebrow wag as he takes his leave; Severide watching his friend go with an easy smile before he looks up at his wife.
"I think we should go away for a few days…you know when I get my walking papers," Severide suggests as Erin gently eases herself down onto the bed beside him; his right arm, his uninjured arm wrapping around her shoulders and hugging her tightly. "So…did you go?"
"That's rhetorical right?" She retorts as her fingers carefully trace the outline of the injury his left arm sustained by being torn up by the piece of rebar Hadley had used as a crude but effective weapon. "I had to."
"Did Halstead go with you?"
"Hadley's dead remember? It's not like he was there waiting," she tosses back in sarcasm. But when she feels his body stiffen under hers she twists her head and looks up with arched brows. "I just had to see for myself that…that I guess he couldn't get away."
"And?"
"He's dead. I saw the area Drew was and it appeared he got caught by debris. He wasn't as badly burned and I was able to…well to make out that it was him. Some facial recognition along with the tattoo on his neck," she muses as his fingers idly play with her loose auburn locks.
"Did Voight get Drew's last message?"
"Hadley promised him an escape route and there was ten grand in his account an hour before that happened."
"Ten…damn," Severide curses as she outlines a few extras they found including the phone recordings and traded phone calls. But as she finishes talking, she notices that her husband has lapsed into silence and looks up in wonder.
"Prison never changed him at all," Severide muses seriously. "I thought for sure he'd use the five years to just…I guess I hoped he'd just see all the stuff that led up to his arrest was…I don't know…didn't think it'd end like this."
Her fingers slowly intertwine with his as her head falls back to a resting position on his shoulder; the two of them letting out contented sighs. "But…at least it's over."
"Yeah," he whispers as he kisses the top of her head and then closes his eyes. At first his breathing is kind of shallowed and Erin moves her head to allow her husband to breathe unhindered. But until his breathing settles into a steady rhythmic pattern her mind remains agitated. Then when she's just about to close her eyes to get some sleep, she feels him slightly stirring and then gasps when he twists the wrong way.
"Kelly?"
"Just…shifting," he grunts as he looks at her with a frown. "You went alone?"
"There was no danger," she twists herself onto her side on the small side of the narrow hospital bed; not wanting to leave his side until the morning. "Get some sleep. I'm here now and we're both safe," she tells him as she kisses his cheek and then rests her head back on his shoulder. It's not long until Severide follows his wife into the realm of darkness. About an hour later, Hallie comes up to their room just to check on their friends, putting another blanket over her friends before she turns and heads toward her waiting husband.
"Let's go home," Hallie tells Matt as their hands clasp and they leave the quiet area, Casey's arm wrapping around his wife as he holds her close and the two of them walking into the night.
XXXXXXXX
"Two weeks isn't that bad," Erin retorts with a small snicker as they enter their quiet apartment the following day.
"One week…I can go back in one week."
"On light duty," she qualifies as he drops the small knapsack by the entrance of the door and heads into their kitchen to get a glass of cold water. "You could always come and be my secretary," she teases as she wraps her arms around his waist, resting her head on his chest as he holds her close.
"You know…never too tired to…" his lips nuzzle her ear as small shivers slide down her spine and her eyes close with warm delight.
"Your lungs wouldn't last."
"Death by sex, like the sound of that," Severide grins as she looks up with an adoring smile. "But you know I think both Matt and the doc were right…a few days off would be great."
"The cabin?"
"Why not? Dad's going to be busy with the Miller case. Now that Hadley is um…dead," Severide mentions slowly as his expression turns serious. But the few moments that follow, the silence starts to build and he has to confess that he too wants to return to the scene of Hadley's final resting place. She wants to argue, telling herself inside that it would spare him some additional mental stress; however, she also knows that if she doesn't go alone, he'll just find a way to do it on his own.
So after he has a shower and they both freshen up, they head out, talking a bit more about the case and then their upcoming trip to the cabin where they'd do nothing but relax in bed as much as possible. Severide's mind revels in the delightful knowledge of what their trip to come will entail but as soon as they reach the entrance to the tunnel, his heart rate stars to increase and he wonders if this was such a good idea.
She feels his hand tighten in her grasp and looks up at him in quiet misery. "Just look inside and then…you don't need to do this."
"I know…I just…" his voice pauses as they reach the entrance to the room and instantly his senses are hit with the lingering scent of fire and scorched flesh. His eyes briefly close and he can see himself in his mind's eye – starting the fire…fighting for his life…clawing the earth, hitting his attacker and praying for an intervention. It came in the way of his friend and his wife but not before his mind was spared the horrors of his former co-worker coming back to kill him.
It was a few meters away – Hadley's final resting place and even though, from his vantage point it appears that everything is as it should be, he still cannot bring himself to take another step closer into the burnt out room.
"I hate this place," she whispers as his arm wraps around her shoulders and pulls her close. "I can still hear you calling out."
He squeezes her shoulders and then takes a few steps further into the foul smelling room. "I thought you wouldn't find the ring," he admits in a soft whisper as his back remains to her. "He was watching."
"I know…that made me sick to think that he…and his words."
"Wish you hadn't see it," Severide huffs as she looks at him in wonder. "What he said…about me and you and…" Severide angrily hisses as he turns back to her with a cross expression. "He told me…he waited five years to come to this point. He…he was so full of hate…five years…he never changed. Never! What he said about you…"
"They were words and he's dead, he can never hurt us now. Never. That's all we need to think about. He'll never hurt us or anyone ever again," she adds softly as she turns and heads for the entrance. Severide watches his wife walk away and then turns and looks back at the spot where Hadley's frame had caught on fire and then took its last breath. But just before he turns he thinks he sees what looks like a shadow…a depression in the floor? Or…you need rest…there's nothing there…go home with your wife and rest.
He spits on the ground before he turns and heads toward the entrance, taking her hand and silently leading then back to the surface and into their car. On the ride back home, the conversation is mostly somber and that mood continues as they enter their quiet abode.
"I'm taking a nap."
She watches him leave and knows that the outing took more of a toll than he was willing to admit. She calls her partner and then Voight to see if anything new had been found.
"Nothing and the file has been closed. They confirmed Sheppard's DNA and had to use the one tooth that survived of Hadley's to ID him. Both are dead. Are you two heading to the cabin?"
"Yeah for a few days."
"Good. I'll see you when you get back."
"Yeah…" she sighs as she hangs up and then looks at Halstead's text 'case closed.' She makes a mental note for herself to check on the confirmed cause of Sheppard's death when they get back from the cabin. With that she puts down her phone and heads into their bedroom, gently easing herself into her husband's grasp and covering them back up with the blanket.
The husky scent of his aftershave starts to tease her senses but at the same time comforts her, lulling her into what she hopes is a restful sleep. But an hour later, a horrific nightmare rips him from his sleep and she's quick to turn to him and get him to open up and talk about it.
"It'll take a few more days at least…maybe a week," she tells him tenderly as her fingers trace his jaw. "Just rest now. I'm not going anywhere," she soothes as she pulls his head back down to hers, resting on her chest. His eyes close and his mind starts to take delight in her steadily beating heartrate; the two of them falling back into a restful slumber.
After that they both wake up, talk a bit more and then head into the kitchen to start to make dinner, another restful evening head of them. That night, they head to bed early, lying intertwined in each other's arms.
XXXXXXXX
"Dad said he's going to join us in a few days and he'll bring the beer," Severide snickers as they near their quiet cabin.
"Tell him to bring a few extra steaks and he's invited," she tosses back as he looks at her with an amused grin. "It's so quiet and peaceful out here," she takes in a deep breath of fresh air and then looks at him with a 'come hither smile.' "I've missed you."
That's all the incentive he needs as he scoops her up in his strong arms, her arms draping round her neck as their lips lock for the first of many passionate kisses. He places her on the bed and emits a low growl; her lips uttering a small giggle.
"I love you so much," he tells her in truth as her body happily arches into his. He pulls his wife's perfect body closer into his hungry grasp; his mind focused on their ensuing union and wanting to push aside the past week's horrors. "Oh God I need you so much."
At the same time a rather scruffy looking man shuffles into the tunnels, followed by another.
"Deek…it's too dark in there…"
"Maybe this room has something for us…"
The two homeless men enter the room; one pulling away from the other and starting to look around. He enters into the room a bit more…the darkness his friend. His little flashlight bounces off the floor and the walls. But just before he's about to tell his friend to move on to the next room he stops…and bends in a bit closer.
"What'd you find?"
"Not sure…the floor…look under all this…it's loose."
"What'd that mean Deek?"
"I don't know but let's get outta here. This place gives me the creeps."
And before the depression in the floor can be fully discovered, the two of them turn and hurry out of the room; the light leaving and the area being bathed in darkness once more – only the lingering sound of mocking laughter hanging in the smoky smelling air.
"You're so beautiful," Severide whispers as his naked frame spoons up beside his wife's; gazing down at her in tender love. But just before he can lean in to kiss her, his mind's eye picks up a low mocking laugh that makes him frown heavily.
"Kelly?"
He looks back down at her with a warm smile.
"What's going on?"
"Nothing," he replies as he tries to push the familiar sound of Hadley's mocking laughter to the back of his mind. He leans in, pulling her close as his lips crush hers once more.
In a week, he'd be back to work, they both would be; he and Casey trading stories about their trips away and then getting back to life in general. They would tell themselves the feud was over – it having died with Kevin Hadley. That'd tell themselves that they wouldn't have to worry about another call. But…it would take a bit of time before they really believed it.
Would they?
Maybe...?
THE END!
A/N: Yup I'm ending it right there muwhahaha Yeah I like my evil cliffy's and hey I might come back to this little angsty storyline or I might not hehe either way our couple survived and had a very happy ending and so for now we'll say Hadley RIP *wink* would love a final review from you all before you go on this update, this story and our happy couple. Thanks everyone!
PS: This might be the ending to this story but it's by no means the end of my Kelly/Erin stories. I do have a sequel to Plan B already on the writing board and maybe a few more after that. If you want that please let me know in your final review and thanks again!