A/N: This chapter was inspired by Dawson's line "I'm sorry, but I am not going to pretend like I don't remember peeling you off the floor after that woman broke your heart." Enjoy.

Chapter 10: The Breakup

A year and a half later...

Shay's apartment, Saturday, December, 11:30AM

Shay took the stairs two at a time on the way to her apartment door. Unlocking it with her key, she glanced at the Michael Kors watch on her left wrist; a gift from Clarice. She and Dawson had about fifteen minutes to get the ambo back to the House before the next paramedics started shift. Shay had talked Dawson into stopping for something to eat before they headed back. They'd gotten breakfast and since Shay's apartment was on the way back to the firehouse, the two had stopped so Shay could drop breakfast off to Clarice.

The paramedic walked into her apartment and called out to her girlfriend. A red-nosed Clarice turned a corner, wiping her eyes. Shay's eyes shifted between Clarice's tear-streaked face and the duffel bags in either of her hands.

"Clarice? What's going on?"

Clarice sniffled. "I, uh... I left you a letter."

"Wha-. A letter. What for? What's going on?"

"Shay, I have to, uh, I have to leave."

"Why? Is it your dad? Did his heart get worse? Can I help with anything?"

"No."

"Clarice, I'm a-."

"No, it's not my dad, Leslie. I just have to go."

Realization shot through Shay like a lightning bolt. She dropped the bag of food she had been holding. Walking to Clarice, the brunette took a quick step back. She winced at Shay's hand on her hand.

"Clarice-."

"Shay, please. Just... don't. Don't make this harder than it has to be."

Tears formed in Shay's eyes, threatening to spill over. "Clarice, let's talk about this. I mean-. Is it something that I'm doing. Is it my work hours? I can cut back. I can be here more. Please. I can be who you want me to be. Just tell me who you want me to be."

Shay's eyes had become rapids and the waterfalls spilled down her reddened cheeks.

"That's just it, Shay. I'm tired of trying to turn you into the person that I want to be with. I'm sick of telling you how to talk. How to act in public. I'm sick of teaching you which fork is the salad fork. Or how you put the fabric softener in during spin cycle only."

"Spin cycle-. Wha-. Clarice!" Shay breathed out, truly perplexed. She had done everything Clarice had asked of her.

The blonde put her hand on her chest, her heart suddenly pumping too quickly. Her pulse quickened and her chest heaved. The panic attack was starting. The horn on the ambulance sounded; a warning from the impatient Dawson.

Clarice sidestepped Shay and she started towards the door. Shay followed behind her, grabbing ahold of Clarice's right wrist.

"Clarice, don't do this!" The tears fell freely and her voice pleaded for her lover.

"Shay, stop this. It's what's best for both of us." Clarice said. "We both deserve better."

When she got to the front door, Clarice paused before opening it, walking out and shutting it behind her.

Shay kicked the glass coffee table with everything in her, sending it gliding across the hardwood floors towards the fall, shattering into thousands of piece. She slammed her back into the wall, sliding down it until her butt hit the floor and her knees were at her chest. She sobbed uncontrollably, trying not to succumb to the panic attack that threatened to make her go vasovagal syncope.

Outside, Dawson was just leaning over to honk the horn of the double-parked ambo once again, when she saw Clarice brusquely push open the door of the apartment building. With two bags in her hands, and red features, Clarice walked to her car and shoved her bags in the backseat.

Dawson rolled her eyes before sliding over into the driver's seat. As Clarice pulled off, Dawson reversed into the parking spot before locking up, jumping out and heading towards Shay's apartment.

Just as Shay had done, Dawson took the stairs two at a time. Opening the unlocked door, Dawson jumped, startled by Shay's sniffling . The blonde had her head in her lap, arms wrapped around her knees.

Dawson immediately dropped to her knees next to Shay, putting her arm around her saddened friend. She rubbed Shay's back and simply allowed her to cry.

Ten minutes later, Dawson's head shot up in remembrance.

"Shay, I have to take the ambo back. But I'm going to grab our bags, clock us out and I'll be back as soon as I can. I promise. Do you want me to bring Severide back with me?"

Sobs overwhelmed Shay as she tried to speak. When that became a task in itself, she simply nodded.

"Okay. I'll be right back. No more than twenty minutes." Dawson promised.

Firehouse 51, Chicago, 11: 59AM

Pulling the ambulance back into the warehouse, Dawson hopped out and ran through the double doors into the common area.

"Has Severide gone home yet?" Dawson inquired to anyone who would answer.

"No, what's up?" Severide asked.

Dawson whipped around to see the muscular fireman with his gym bag resting upon his shoulder.

"We've got an emergency at Shay's."

"What? Is she okay? What happened?"

"It's Clarice. She left Shay."

"Damn it." He cursed. His eyes shut for a millisecond before snapping open again. "Does she need anything?"

"Just you and me. And, knowing Shay, probably a whole gallon of strawberry banana frozen yogurt."

"Got it. I'll get the fro-yo. Meet you at Shay's?"

Dawson nodded before racing to the locker room. She opened her locker and Shay's, grabbing their gym bags and stuffing them with the necessities. She slammed the lockers back and headed practically jogged towards her car.

Back at Shay's apartment, Dawson opened the still unlocked door. Shay was no longer by the door crying. Dawson walked further into the dwelling and called out for her friend.

"Shay, where are you?"

Dawson walked down the hallway, looking in the bathroom and the guest room, before heading to Shay's bedroom.

There, lying on the floor, was Leslie Shay. The blonde was unmoving, her eyes were open, staring at nothing.

"Shay?"

Leslie sniffled, but still didn't respond. Dawson dropped to her knees and lie on the floor next to her.

"Don't you think the bed would be more comfortable?" She asked.

Shay gave a half-shrug.

"Do you want me to get you a pillow?"

Shay was silent. She just wanted to wallow in the self-pity and the mess that was her love life. It didn't matter if anyone was around or if she had a pillow under her head. Nothing mattered now. Her whole existence had packed up every article of clothing she owned and walked out on Shay.

When the blonde spoke, it was so low, that Dawson had to ask her to repeat herself.

Shay sniffled again and cleared her throat, trying to speak louder. Her voice crackled. "S-she, uh, left a letter."

"A letter? Saying what?"

Shay opened her balled up fist to reveal a piece of pale pink stationary paper that she'd balled up. Dawson took it from her hand, turned on her stomach and propped herself up onto her elbows. She uncrumpled the paper and smoothed it as much as she could in order to read it properly.

Shay,

I'm sorry for the way I'm leaving. Yes, I'd agree that it's a coward's way out, but I had to. I couldn't stand seeing the heartbroken look on your face. I feel like we're at a stand still. Like this domesticated life is all we'll have for the rest of our lives. We don't live like we used to. I'm used to hanging out at bars with my friends and we don't do that any longer. I feel like I've become a '50s housewife and that just isn't me. I love you and a piece of me always will.

Clarice

"Bitch." Dawson muttered.

"Yo! Anybody home?" Severide's voice yelled.

"In Shay's room!"

A few moments passed before Severide appeared in Shay's doorway.

"Oh, this is just pathetic. Shay, this girl obviously doesn't deserve your tears."

Dawson gave him a look. Severide shrugged his shoulders and then walked to the other side of Shay. He, too, laid down beside her. Shay rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling.

Severide turned his head to look at Shay. "She's a bitch. It's okay if you wanna say it. Say she's a bitch."

"She's a bitch!" Dawson yelled.

"Bitch!" Severide shouted. He nudged Shay's side.

"Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch!" Shay screamed. "Uggggggghhhhhh! How could she do this to me?!"

The blonde broke down, her body suddenly overcome with heavy sobs. Severide cuddled up to her, stroking her hair gently, while Dawson grabbed Shay's hand, squeezing it tightly.

Up Next: Back to work. Dawson takes Shay to Nocturnal to cheer her up.