Ossa Mea
Love
Time passed so slowly for Casey in the hospital now that he was a little healthier and a little stronger. He did receive some very welcome visitors who were all delighted to see him doing so much better than he had been a month previously, when they thought they would not see him again. He was cheerful and glad to see his 51 family plus some old friends, of course, Casey had no recollections of their last visits so it was good to see them again. Even though he wasn't completely physically healed his mental state was much improved. He was getting bored easily now and Severide was ecstatic about that because it signified that his boy was getting better if he no longer just wanted to while away every hour sleeping.
Casey was counting down the days until he could be discharged. His left arm was back in its sling for support but the physiotherapists were hopeful that it would soon be fully functioning as their work with Casey was going so well and he was improving with each session, although they did have one or two small setbacks because he tired so quickly and easily. He had a few more sessions scheduled in the hyperbaric chamber but soon he would only need to return to the hospital for his IV antibiotic's, the central line was still in place and would be for some time but soon he'd be able take the antibiotics orally.
It would be at least five months until he fully recovered from the infection and subsequent pneumonia but he wasn't going to complain because that was five months of life he didn't think he was going to get to live. Although Casey knew very well that recurrence of the MRSA would always be a possibility. Not probable. But possible.
Casey's PEG tube had finally been removed and the incision in his abdomen had been stitched. The nutritionist had given him a meal plan and lots of leaflets and advice when she had stopped by to see him the previous day. He was underweight and would need to gain at least twenty pounds but even that wouldn't take him up to his pre-injury weight. Casey still had a long hard road ahead of him, but he knew that as long as he had Severide and his full support he would be fine and he would make it back to 51 and his truck company. Casey's doctor had presented him with a long list of do's and a longer list of don'ts, one of which was no sexual activity for several more weeks. That one had earned a disgruntled look from both of them earlier that morning.
Severide had immediately banished Casey into bed when they arrived back at their apartment. He felt exhausted just with the journey home so he lay fully clothed on the bed with the sheets folded back while Severide unpacked the bags. No point in Casey trying to help because he knew he wouldn't be allowed, Severide wouldn't let him lift one finger. Besides which he knew it would take him way past the point of exhaustion. Severide was grinning when he walked back into the bedroom after putting some of Casey's things in the bathroom.
"Why are you still smiling?" Casey asked nonchalantly from his comfy position on the bed.
"We haven't slept in the same bed for ninety-six days," Severide told him as he took off his shirt and sat down next to Casey.
"Oh yeah?" he grinned at Severide's accuracy. "Your right hand get tired whilst I was busy dying?" A smirk made its way onto Casey's face.
"You're a funny guy." Severide's voice dripped with sarcasm as he deadpanned. He took off Casey's top and joggers, he'd bought him a few new clothes but they still hung off him. "Gonna be warm enough?" he nodded at Casey's boxers as he removed his own clothing.
"With you by side? Yes," Casey paused, "It's not night time…"
"That's not stopped us from sleeping together before," Severide shot back, laughing as he jumped onto the bed next to Casey and pulled the sheet up over the both of them.
He pulled Casey into a soft embrace and he soon fell asleep in Severide's arms. Severide didn't even close his eyes. He was thinking. He never thought he would have this again. Never thought Casey would come home from the hospital. It was a feeling of utter happiness and unconditional love that he had for Casey. The love of his life was lying next to him in his arms. No permanent damage despite what he had been through. Only scars, both physical and mental, but they would deal with those in due time. They would be overcome.
A short while later Severide was almost drifting off when he felt Casey move in his arms and he increased his hold. "Stop..." Severide said, keeping his voice at the level of a loud whisper. "Where are you going?"
"Need to take a leak... don't..." He pulled away from Severide's hold. "I can't just piss in the bed anymore, can I?" he laughed as he sat up and swung his legs out of bed.
"Fine but you better be back here real quick," Severide pouted with a laugh. He had wanted that embrace to last a lifetime.
"Well, if you're so desperate to be with me you can come with me then..." Casey began, getting to his feet. "Woah…" he plonked himself back onto the mattress.
"Ok, Matt?" Severide reached out and touched his back reassuringly. "Just take it slow, all right?"
Casey didn't say anything, and was just breathing deeply, trying to steady himself.
"Matty?"
"I'm ok," Casey replied through gritted teeth, "Just need to… sit for a moment…"
"Here," Severide offered his hand/ "You're supposed to be taking things slow, if that means I have to help you to the bathroom when you're dizzy then that's what I'll do."
"Just thought I was getting better... that's all..." Casey's voice was muffled behind his hands.
"Matt come on... you are! First night back at home, I'd say that was getting better."
"I know, sorry, I don't..."
"You've had a long day, you're exhausted, you were ill for nearly four months, it's gonna take some time to feel better."
Casey lowered his hands and took hold of Severide's firm grip. "Least I'm pissing in a toilet now," he scoffed, laughing at himself.
Severide just grinned back at him. "That's the spirit."
Casey was still lounging in bed long after Severide had woken, showered and dressed. Casey would have been content to lie there for the rest of the day. He was comfortable, he was pain-free, he wasn't nauseated and was breathing with ease. He would never take breathing in general for granted again but he knew he would have to get up and dressed. He had hospital appointments. He needed his daily IV does of antibiotics, at least he had no physio today and he was thankful he was now an outpatient. He'd not have any more overnight stays for the rest of his life if he had any say in the matter.
Severide stuck his head into the bedroom to check that Casey was awake and up. He saw that he was struggling to get his clothes on. "Damnit…" Casey muttered from inside the body of a t-shirt. It was stuck over his head and he seemed unable to get it on.
"Here," Severide said as he moved over to help him. He straightened the item of clothing out and pulled the sleeves into place so Casey could get his arms through.
"Thanks," Casey said he managed to put his arms into the sleeves. "Left arm's still a bastard..."
"I'll happily help you to get dressed for the rest of your life," Severide smiled as Casey's head emerged through the neck hole of the garment, and he pulled it down into place.
Casey grinned widely, "Ha… you do realise that is gonna be a lot longer now right?"
Casey continued to do very little, he wasn't capable of doing very much yet anyway, he was happy just lying beside Severide, either in bed or on the couch. He had arranged for most of his physio sessions to take place whilst Severide was on shift, firstly so that he had at least got something to focus on while he was on his own and secondly because he didn't want to waste what precious time they had together.
As for Severide, he just wanted to spend every spare moment with Casey in his arms. He would trace the scars on his back and tell him how beautiful he finds him if Casey was having a hard day because recovery was tough. He still had no strength and he tired so very quickly even after little exertion, it was easy for him to lose motivation. He had no real idea how long it was going to take for him to get back to work. He kept on insisting that he was happy enough with his progress although Severide knew that the desire to get better and get back to work had crept in. At times it drove Casey forward but at others it made him miserable because he hadn't even the energy to walk around the block.
Some things were getting back to normal, albeit slowly. Casey started to do some cooking again and he had once tried to clean their apartment. What a mistake that had proved to be. When Severide had spotted him with a duster in his hand he had looked so shocked and angry at the same time that Casey had thought he was about to have an aneurysm. In the end Casey had put the cleaning supplies down and his hands up in mock surrender before going to sit back down on the couch.
Casey's hyperbaric chamber sessions were all over, the treatment course had finished, and he only had one more week left on the antibiotics. He had come so far with his physio and rehab that he now had full movement of his left arm but it was still very weak and he wore it in the sling most of the time, especially outside the apartment so he didn't jar it.
He thoroughly enjoyed going grocery shopping with Severide, mostly because it seemed to be the only activity the Severide deemed safe for him to do, although he was only allowed to walk by Severide holding their shopping list. He laughed at Severide's concern for him but he did understand it. If the situation had been reversed he would be acting exactly the same.
On one of their expeditions to Wal-Mart one Sunday afternoon Casey had been trailing behind Severide, who was pushing the cart across the parking lot, when everything seemed to start tilting and he found himself collapsing onto his knees. He didn't the strength or stability to prevent himself falling right down onto the ground, landing on his left side. He grunted loudly in pain as he hit the tarmac.
"Sev..." Casey managed to mumble before it all went black.
Severide hadn't realised Casey wasn't right by him until he heard someone calling loudly behind him. "Hey! Hey! Your friend's fallen… looks like he's out!" Severide turned instinctively and saw Casey lying on the ground surrounded by a small cluster of people.
"Shall I call 911?" someone was asking.
"Stand back, give him some air," another voice said.
"His friend's here... does he need an ambulance?"
Severide left the shopping cart full of their groceries at the edge of the growing crowd of onlookers and knelt down by Casey.
"Matt! Matty!" Casey could hear his name coming from somewhere. He was disorientated and in pain but he struggled to get up, trying to push himself off the ground and into a sitting position with his good arm. It didn't seem to work properly and he had to rely on Severide lifting him up. He could hear him thanking the crowd of would-be helpers, checking him over for injuries, talking to him all the while, but he had no idea what Severide was actually saying to him. Blood was starting to trickle down his face from a graze along his cheekbone and brow. He could feel his lower lip swelling and bleeding where he had bitten it on impact. His right wrist had ballooned to twice its normal size, clearly sprained as he had instinctively held out it out to try and stop his head hitting the ground first.
Severide knew Casey had no major injuries so he lifted him as gently as he could to his feet and helped him into the car, fetching the cart of shopping and slinging all the groceries into the trunk. He deserted the trolley right next to the parking spot and drove out as quickly as he dare without breaking the speed limit, heading for the nearest ER.
As Severide drove frantically to Lakeshore Casey was insisting that he was fine and that he didn't need to be going to the ER but nothing was ever going to change Severide's mind so Casey eventually gave up and just went along with it. After they reported in at the desk in the ER it took them over an hour to be seen, during which time Severide could hardly sit still and kept getting up and pacing around, complaining that Casey needed to be seen quickly. He was sure none of his injuries were serious but what bothered him most was the reason for him falling in the first place. Severide's mind was fraught with worry that Casey's infection was making itself known again.
Eventually Casey was called over by a nurse, and the two lieutenants followed her over to one of the ER bays, where Casey got onto the bed while the nurse took some details from him. He seemed to be reasonably clear headed and lucid but Severide was taking no chances after what had happened to him over the last six months.
When the doctor came round to see Casey, he removed Casey's t-shirt and took his vitals, listening to his chest and heart. "Your temperature is 97.8, is that usual for you?" the doctor asked as he continued to examine Casey.
"That's about right for him at the moment, he's just getting over pneumonia and..." Severide piped up.
"Yes I see from his medical records, you've had a pretty rough time of it then?" the doctor spoke back to Casey.
"I'm fine, honestly. I just went dizzy, light-headed. Shoulda sat down..." Casey was still insisting he was fine. He just wanted to be out of there as soon as he possibly could.
"Matty, just let the doctor do his job," Severide stated, interrupting him.
The doctor gave Casey a quick smile as he checked his blood pressure and respiration rate. All in normal range for him at the moment. "Ok so far so good. While you're waiting for the x-ray I'm going to get a nurse to come and clean up these grazes and cuts, and she'll take some blood so we can see what's happening there. I'll speak to your doctor over at Gaffney too. In the meantime try not to worry too much." His last few words were aimed more towards Severide that Casey. He was clearly the one who was more worried.
Casey just lay back and relaxed into the bed. He was pretty exhausted and it had turned out to be a much longer trip out than either of them had anticipated. "Kel..." Casey began in an odd tone of voice.
"Sounds ominous," Severide responded from his seat next to the bed.
"What happened to all our groceries? You didn't leave them…"
"No, I didn't, the stuff's all in the trunk. Loaded it all in after I picked you up off the ground."
"Good," Casey replied, "I'm looking forward to that lasagne... looks as if you're gonna have to make it now though. I can supervise if you need..."
Severide grinned as Casey reached out his arm towards him. He took hold of his outstretched hand and placed it back on the bed. Casey's face had a resigned expression now.
"Listen, everything is gonna be all right… and quit moving that arm, ok?" Severide's tone was that of a mock order, making Casey smile in response.
"While we're waiting you might as well go get something to eat, get a coffee or something..."
Severide shook his head. "No. I'm fine here."
He had replied just a little too quickly and Casey was suspicious about what he was thinking. He took a proper look at Severide, his eyes searched his face. "You're scared..." Casey said softly, keeping his voice low, "No need. I'm fine, just passed out, that's all, it's no big deal..."
"Matty. we're in the hospital again. You blacked out and fell. Your face is a mess and your wrist could be broken. And the infection could be back..."
"I was just tired, not eaten enough… mean, looked at me… a strong wind could knock me over. Please don't be scared."
A moment later a nurse appeared through the curtain, carrying a tray containing the equipment she needed. "Hi Matt. I'm Carol. I'm just gonna take some blood and then I'll get you cleaned up, all right?" She looked down at his wrist. "How's the pain? You need anything for it?"
Casey just shook his head.
"You're sure? It looks pretty painful…"
"It feels all right, really. Compared to what I've had before, it's nothing," Casey told her.
She tied a tight band around his arm and tried to raise a vein so she could take some bloods but it took her three attempts before she could get the needle into the correct place. She apologised profusely, saying she didn't usually have any trouble.
Casey simply laughed. "Don't worry about it, you guys have been sticking my veins for months, looks like they've started to protest..." he joked, partly to try and improve Severide's mood and partly for the nurse's benefit.
After the nurse had cleaned up Casey's face and placed some butterfly stitches over the graze above his brow, which had already swollen with bruising, and after he had been up to the x-ray suite he was still awake although he was quiet and becoming more drowsy as time went on. They'd been in the ER for almost three hours when Severide told him to go to sleep, seeing how his eyes were almost closing and he couldn't fight to keep them open any longer. He would have fallen straight to sleep if it weren't for the curtains being pulled back and the ER doctor appearing.
Severide was tensed up and grabbed Casey's hand, purely an anxious reaction in case it was bad news. But the doctor put them both at ease immediately. "Everything's fine. There's nothing to indicate another infection. The blood sugar level was low which is probably what caused the blackout and fall."
"Told ya…" Casey slurred languidly, smiling at Severide. "No need to worry 'bout me... what about the wrist?" he asked the doctor.
"Well, it's a bad sprain but not broken. You'll need to wear this for three to four weeks. You can take Advil or Tylenol for the pain and any swelling." The doctor removed the temporary splint from Casey's injured wrist and replaced it with a black brace, fastening it with the Velcro straps as tightly as he could bear but so it was comfortable.
"So I'm good to go then?" Casey was more alert now.
But just as the doctor was starting to reply Severide spoke up. "Shouldn't he be having an MRI or something? What if you've missed something? He almost..."
Casey cut him off. "Kelly, I just blacked out, that's all. Need to make sure I take snacks out with me so it doesn't happen again."
"Matt's right," the doctor smiled. "And you two are free to get out of here then."
Severide agreed reluctantly and shook the doctors hand, thanking him.
The journey back home from Lakeshore was only about twenty minutes but Casey managed to spend most of it fast asleep. Severide couldn't help but constantly glance from the road to Casey's sleeping figure. Seeing the gentle rise and fall of his chest was something that Severide was never take for granted again.
Later in the evening they lay together in bed just for the comfort and reassurance that it brought them after so many months of stress and pain, both emotional and physical. They had been through so much now and wanted to spend as much time together relaxing as they could and where better to do that than in their luxurious kingsize bed. Besides which, still no sex for Casey for some weeks, doctor's orders, and Severide was going to see that he stuck to that rule even if he felt like he was suffering for it. Half a year was a hell of a long time not to be deep inside his boy. But it wouldn't be forever.
"I was so scared that this wouldn't happen again Matt," Severide said softly, his fingers were gently making patterns on Casey's arm.
"Sorry I worried you," Casey told him, his head laid on Severide's chest. His left hand was toying with the top of Severide's boxers. "I'd promise that I won't black out and fall again but..."
"I know, it's not your fault. Well at least you're starting to gain some weight."
Casey just smiled into Severide's chest. "Needs to be some muscle though..." he retorted.
"Already is, all that rehab is doing you the world of good and you'll be able to get back to your old workout routine before too long, and you should have the all clear to go running soon... although I'm gonna ban you from doing that on your own..." Severide was thinking aloud now.
"You're gonna ban me?" Casey smirked as if to say 'no chance of that happening.'
"Do I need to remind you that you blacked out whilst out grocery shopping today?"
"Well that's exactly why I don't have the all clear to do anything more than the exercises set out by the physio. They're nearly as strict as you are…"
Severide just grinned and feeling supremely relaxed he closed his eyes, drifting on a sea of happiness. He fell asleep with Casey wrapped beneath his arms. There was no better feeling in the world.
Casey was exhausted after another hospital appointment a few days later. He'd had an hour long physio session, made all the more complicated now he'd injured his wrist, after receiving his antibiotics. They had only just managed to get there on time as Severide's shift had overrun and he hadn't even had time to shower for fear of Casey not making it to the hospital. But they had made it just in time and everything had gone perfectly after that.
They arrived back at their apartment shortly before noon and decided to share a nice warm shower together. Severide felt filthy after his shift and just wanted Casey to be in there with him. He wanted to build on their closeness and intimacy again, feeling that some of it was still lost, he knew it would come back once Casey had recovered completely but it seemed to be taking forever, although it was time they thought Casey would never have, he wasn't going to complain and he wasn't going anywhere. And neither was Casey. So they would just take things slowly and just enjoy each other's company, just laying with Casey was more than enough. Besides, Severide knew that full on sex was out of the question right now. It was still on Casey's list of 'don'ts' given to him by the doctors when he had been discharged. So for the time being he just had close physical contact. On the couch, in bed, hell even in the shower would do. Better than no Casey at all.
After their shower the aromatic fragrance of the body oil Severide had rubbed into Casey's skin had filled the apartment. Casey had disappeared into the bedroom to get some rest, as he often did, so Severide decided to entertain himself and watch some TV. He flicked through the menu to check if anything took his attention. Eventually he hit on a programme listing for Fishing and tuned the channel to that to watch 'River Monsters' since it sounded interesting enough and he thought Casey might like to watch it whenever he emerged again. So with a beer in his hand he settled back in the couch to watch.
Severide had almost finished his can of beer when Casey finally put in an appearance, his hair was hanging in still-damp tendrils around his face, he was dressed in a vest, self-conscious of his body even in just his own company, and light cut off sweatpants that both hung off him. He still had a pink flush to his skin from the shower and Severide felt as if he could just jump him right there and then as he walked towards him. He could feel the heat rushing to his groin as Casey sat down by him on the couch. Casey was still sleepy and only half awake, he smelled of the oil and that was turning Severide on more than ever. But he just had to control his urge. For the time being. No way would he want Casey to feel inadequate because he couldn't have sex. He didn't want him to think that was the only reason he was here, or that he would leave if sex was lacking in their relationship, not with his bundle of trust issues.
Casey just watched he TV screen for a few moments, then without warning, and without even turning his head to face Severide, he just came out with it. "Kel ... you're hard." Just like that, a very matter-of-fact statement.
"Well spotted... can't help it, seeing you walking around with your clothes hanging off like that..." Severide breathed heavily, he had been about to get up and make a quick trip to the bathroom.
"So maybe we should go to the bedroom then?" Casey almost whispered, but he still didn't turn to look at Severide.
"Since when did we need a bedroom?" Severide whispered back, his lips close to Casey's ear, he was eager now. He moved closer to Casey and gently placed his lips against Casey's and sucking them playfully. He raised a hand and pulled the vest down so he could stroke Casey's chest, mindful of the central line that was still there. He moved a hand to stroke Casey's groin. He so wanted to get him hard, like he was already. Carefully and slowly, he manoeuvred Casey around so he was underneath him and he pulled down the sweatpants so he could get full access.
But there was little reaction from Casey and he eventually started to struggle to get out from under Severide, mumbling. "Stop Kel… I can't… sorry… I can't…"
Severide sat up and let Casey get up off the couch, watching him as he pulled his sweatpants back up with a look of dismay on his beautiful face. Severide couldn't bear his distress and he stood up, looking Casey directly in the eye, "Matty… it's ok," he said as he stroked Casey's hair, "It's fine. You're still sick. I shouldn't have let it get any further..."
Still distressed Casey shook his head and almost fell onto his knees. He raised his hands and touched the exposed flesh of Severide's hips, then gripping the waist of his boxers Severide's overwhelming urge was to let Casey continue, he needed that release but he knew it was wrong. It wasn't fair on Casey and Severide just prayed that he wasn't doing it out of some sense of obligation, although Severide had a terrible suspicion that he was. He raised his own hands from where their resting place on Casey's hair. He took hold of his wrists and gently but firmly removed Casey's hands from his hips.
Casey looked up into Severide's eyes, questioning his actions. Severide just shook his head.
"Matty, stop. Not like this. I want it to be perfect for both of us. We'll wait until you are better. I'll wait for you."
"No…" Casey tried to move his hands from Severide's grip, "Let me… you took so much care of me… just let me…"
"Matt, please don't, you look like you're gonna collapse, this doesn't matter, I love you, it's not about sex. Just lie with me."
Seven months after the central line was inserted the same nurse removed it with a smile. Casey was still not a hundred percent, he still grew short of breath and still tired easily but with now his chest was free of the central line he felt healthier. He looked healthier too despite only slowly gaining weight, he still lost his appetite at times and sometimes struggled to keep the food down but now he was being switched to oral antibiotics they hoped he'd receive less of the side effects. He was soon signed off from the physio too but it would take some time to fully recover his strength but he had full mobility of his right arm and he was more than grateful for that, grateful just for the fact that he still had the limb, grateful for everything everyone had done for him because he knew he wouldn't be here without all their help, the hospital staff and Severide. Especially Severide.
The sling was gone for good but they did nothing adventurous to celebrate, that evening they'd just stayed in and played scrabble in front of their roaring fire place, Casey was in a jumper and Severide was in a thin shirt but he'd happily suffer the heat from the fire, Casey grew cold so easily, always had but more so now.
"That is not real word…" Severide sat back and stared down at the board.
"I can get the dictionary out to prove it," Casey replied, a smug smirk on his lips, "It's real word. Trust me."
"Sundog," he read it aloud, "No. You've made that up."
"You just gotta face the fact that better at scrabble than you and I am gonna win every single time," he grinned.
"You're too competitive," Severide shook his head.
"Damn right I am… and you wouldn't have it any other way."
Severide leant over the board and kiss him on the lips.
"Hey… you're still gonna lose… no matter how many times you kiss me, you might have the most perfect lips in the world but nothing is gonna distract from this game."
"Oh yeah?" Severide was looking down at Casey's hardening member and felt heat rise in his own groin.
"Well maybe we should come back to this later…"
"I think that's a good idea."
Days passed by and as Casey recovered the idea of going back out on the lake became more and more enticing.
The movement of the boat in time with the waves by the wooden jetty was comforting, even soothing to Casey as he sat on the upper part of the deck, legs dangling over the cabin door entrance. He held a bottle of Gatorade in one hand and a snack in the other. They'd been out on the lake most of the day, taking advantage of the mild autumn before winter took hold. Casey was watching Severide doing the… well… something at the other end of the boat with a rope. Severide's boat was his domain and his alone, and despite promising Casey he'd teach him out to sail it apparently the opportunity still hadn't arisen, although Casey was happy to sit and watch Severide do all the hard work, he wasn't sure he'd much use anyway, although he felt a ten times better than even just a month ago.
Soon Severide reappeared next to Casey. He stood between Casey's legs, his head roughly the same height as Casey's shoulders. Casey had finished the high protein snack and the Gatorade. His hands were free. He placed one hand on either side of Severide's head, gently tilting his face up towards him. Then he bent over and kissed his mouth, it was several moments before he broke away.
"What was that about?" Severide smiled up at him.
Casey shrugged. "Guess I just wanted to say thanks for everything, even if you can be overprotective at times," he grinned.
Severide smiled, he was gently touching Casey's knees, "Maybe I am over protective of you, rightfully so though..."
"You saved me," Casey stated with a nod, "You really did Kelly."
"Nah, it was all down to you…"
"Shh... listen to me," Casey smiled and placed a finger over Severide's lips to silence him. "Without you I wouldn't be here now. I couldn't have done it on my own."
"You could have and you did," Severide replied, "You're the strong…"
"No, no I didn't," Casey spoke gently but determinedly, "I reckon love is a pretty powerful thing and I'm sorry I doubted yours..."
Severide face broke into the best smile Casey had seen for a very long time, all the worry and stress seemed to have gone. "Well, we both know that you have trust issues and we both know that I have never had a great record with relationships and commitment…"
"I trust you completely. I mean… you could have left me, should have left me… for anyone while I was so sick for all that time. But you didn't. You didn't leave me…" his voice almost broke and he was holding back tears as he said his thoughts aloud. "Everyone always leaves… but you didn't and if I didn't have you to live for I wouldn't have survived this."
Severide wiped away the stray tear from Casey's face, they were both smiling now. "So, you gonna marry me then, Matthew Casey? Or do I need to get us some rings and get down on my knees and beg you?"
"Don't need a ring, just need you..." Casey pulled Severide in close to him, arms around him, holding his head against his chest.
"Guess we'll have to figure work out," Severide commented.
"We'll figure it out... in the grand scheme of things it doesn't really matter..."
"Are you gonna go all philosophical on me now you've stared death in the face and won?"
"I have nine lives remember?" Casey grinned.
"Yeah and you're using them all up..."
"Well, as long as I get to spend them all with you, I don't care."
The End