I had trouble with this chapter... The story had me in a funk and it took me way too long to get out of it. Sorry for the wait!

Chapter 14

"Hey! Clarke!" Herrmann greeted him. "About time you showed back up to work." He joked.

"Haha Herrmann." Clarke rolled his eyes.

"Seriously though, it's good to see you back. You full duty or what?"

"Getting there. Light duty. Whatever that means." He shrugged.

"I hear ya!" Herrmann patted his back as he walked by.

"So you've just decided this?" Maggie was sitting cross-legged on Mills' cot.

"It's an opportunity for us to start over. My grandfather left it to my sister and me." He sat next to her. "We were going to sell it. Mom and Elise went… They came back wanting to move."

"This is a lot to process."

"I know. And I know it seems sudden…"

"Maybe because it is?" She glared at him.

"Yeah. That too."

"You just got cleared for Squad."

"Yeah. I had a lot of time to think and I had to wonder if I wanted to be on Squad because of my dad or because I really wanted it. I realized that even if I wasn't on Squad I could still honor my dad's memory. I could still be my own person and not who I thought he would want me to be."

"Yeah." She nodded.

"You okay?" He had only seen her cry a few times, but knew she was close to tears.

"The one constant I've counted on is that you'd be in Chicago." She blinked to stop the tears and stood up.

"Mags. Come on." He followed her when she walked out.

"Peter." She stopped in the hallway and turned around. "I'm mad right now. And hurt." She wanted to say more but thought better of it. She turned and walked to the door. She inwardly cringed when she saw her uncle and boyfriend in the truck bay. She opened the door and walked out.

"Margaret!" Mills pushed the door open. He only called her that a few times.

She stopped and turned to face him. "Peter Mills. You do what you have to do. Okay? Just don't expect me to agree with it." She didn't acknowledge Herrmann or Clarke before she left.

"What the heck was that Mills?" Herrmann looked at him. He didn't know his niece had been inside.

Mills didn't answer. He shook his head and walked back inside.

"Maggie!" Clarke ran after her. "Maggie!"

She stopped and turned.

He was out of breath. "You could have stopped the first time I called you."

She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"Hey. I'm kidding. What's wrong?" He touched her face.

"Nothing is 'wrong'."

"Good. So what has you upset? And don't say you aren't." He smirked.

"Peter is just…" She knew he hadn't told anyone else about the move yet. She thought his decision was stupid. She was mad at him, but she wasn't going to out him to anyone. Not even Clarke. "We disagree on something. I think it's stupid and he doesn't. It's stupid that I am upset, but we're friends and…" She shrugged.

"It sucks when you fight with your friends. I get that." He nodded. "What can I do to help?"

She smiled. "Hold me, tell me you love me and that everything will work out."

He pulled her into his arms. "I can do that." He kissed her head. "I love you Maggie. Everything will work out."

"I love you too Jeff."

"Oh my God. How long have I been out for?" Shay moaned.

"You're awake!" Severide jumped out of his chair.

"Uh. Yeah?" She rolled her eyes.

"You've been out for almost eight weeks." He couldn't believe she woke up. It felt like eight months.

"What the Hell?" She rubbed her hand over her face.

"Do you remember anything?" He asked hesitantly.

"What am I supposed to remember Kelly?" Confusion clouded her face. "How I got here? I've been out. I have no idea."

"I'll get the doctor." He walked to the door and motioned to a nurse.

"Did Gabby make it out?" She asked. Pieces were coming back.

"What?" He turned and looked at her.

"God Kelly. Did Gabby make it out? Has my best friend been dead for eight weeks?" Tears streamed down her face.

"She made it out. She's fine." He rushed back to her bedside. "I'll call Boden." He kissed her forehead.

"Gabby? Chief needs to see you in his office." Connie called to her.

"Sure thing." She wondered what was going on. "Hey Chief. You wanted to see me?" She walked in Boden's office.

"Uh, yeah. Close the door." He walked up to her. "Severide called." His voice cracked. "Shay's awake. And she's asking for you."

"Oh my gosh!" Gabby burst into tears and hugged him. "She's awake. I can't believe this!"

"Go see her. I've already made a call for coverage."

"Thank you Chief!"

"Kelly! What's going on?" Gabby saw him standing outside Shay's room.

"She shooed me." He rolled his eyes. "She said I was smothering her."

Gabby laughed. "That sounds like her!"

"Get in there!" He laughed.

"Hey You!" Gabby announced her presence. She still couldn't believe her best friend and partner was awake.

"Gabby!" Shay beamed. She was relieved to see with her own eyes that Gabby was still alive.

"You know you seriously owe me because I've been stuck on ambo for an extra eight weeks." She joked.

"I know. Kelly told me. You'll just have to deal with it." She chuckled.

"I'm so glad you're okay." She teared up. "God. I told myself I wasn't going to cry." She wiped her eyes.

"I'm glad you're okay too. I was afraid that you were dead. Everyone else is good?"

"Yeah. Mills broke his leg and Clarke had a concussion. Mills just got cleared for squad and Clarke came in today on 'light' duty."

"Good. I'm glad everyone's okay." She smiled and squeezed Gabby's hand.

"They're gonna be glad you pulled through too. I'm sure Boden told them why I left."

"Kelly said the two of you had been here a lot. Megan too." She couldn't imagine what her sister had been going through. "Kelly said he left her a voicemail."

It was a Friday night. They were all off shift until Monday. There was going to be a party at Molly's. Peter Mills was moving with his Mom and sister. Leslie Shay was going home with Megan to rehab. Her doctors believed she would recover, but she would never be a paramedic again.

"Peter Mills and Leslie Shay." Boden raised his glass. "You came in to our house and changed it for the better. 51 will never be the same And we wouldn't have it any other way." He cleared his throat. "Good luck to you both. To Mills and Shay!"

"To Mills and Shay!" Everyone echoed.

Maggie downed her shot before walking out. She was having a hard time with the fact that Peter was leaving.

Peter Mills saw his friend walk outside and followed her.

She was leaning against the building, sobbing into her hands.

"Mags." He walked up to her. "I'm so sorry." He had tears in his eyes. This was harder than he thought it would ever be. "I'm not gonna say goodbye because this is not goodbye." His voice caught in his throat.

She nodded and hugged him tight. "You are my best friend, you are my brother. I love you Pete."

"I love you too Mags." He hugged her and pressed a kiss to her temple. "I'll always be here for you."

She wiped her eyes and nodded. "Likewise."

"Uh oh." He muttered.

"What?"

"Clarke looks pissed. I think he saw me kiss your head."

"So? What does that matter?"

"Apparently it matters to him."

She turned and saw her boyfriend staring them down. "Apparently." She smiled and waved.

Clarke was irritated. It didn't help that his pain medicine was making him on edge. If he was honest with himself he had always been jealous of Mills. A part of him was almost glad to see him leave.

"Hey you." Maggie walked up to him.

Mills wanted to just disappear.

"What is it?" Maggie asked her boyfriend. "Are you taking your pain pills?"

"What if I am?" He snapped.

"Wow!" She threw her hands up in defense. "Sorry I asked." She brushed past him and walked back inside.

"Hey! You okay?" Shay asked.

"It's rough." Maggie admitted.

"Yeah, and just imagine how much worse if you couldn't drink." She sipped her soda. "I mean, I can't exactly take shots of a carbonated beverage. Can you imagine how sick that would make me?!"

"I'm sure it would. My brothers and their friends did that one night. They were sick as dogs for hours."

"Ugh. I bet." Gabby groaned.

"Can I get another shot? Something strong?" Maggie asked Gabby.

"Sure. Everything okay with Clarke?" She poured a shot. She noticed he had gone outside.

"He's taking his pain pills and they put him on edge. I just asked about it and he snapped at me." She downed the shot and motioned for another.

"Damn."

"And he had told me he didn't want to take them because he didn't like who they made him. They make him on edge. Pete hugged me and he looked pissed at us. I don't know what his deal his." She downed another shot. "Has he had anything to drink?"

"A couple beers maybe. I didn't realize he was on pain medicine." Gabby frowned.

"It's okay." She wasn't sure if it was or not, but it had to be. "Tonight is about Pete and Shay."

"Damn right it's about me!" Shay laughed.

Maggie laughed. She was glad Shay was still with them.

"What the Hell is wrong with you man?" Mills huffed at Clarke.

Clarke didn't answer.

"We've talked about this before. There is nothing going on between me and Maggie. There never has been. She's my best friend. She's like a sister to me. I hugged her and kissed her head in an attempt to comfort her. I'd do the same for Elise or my mom. Just chill man." He turned to walk back inside.

"It's hard for me to just chill." Clarke admitted.

Mills turned around and nodded. "You're good for her. I don't want you to lose her. I mean that. And also her brother would kill you." If he was honest with himself, he'd help Marco.

Clarke chuckled. "True. Thanks Mills."

"Mills and Clarke just walked in." Gabby said.

Maggie snorted and sipped her drink.

"You need to talk to him Mags." Mills whispered in her ear.

She was drunk. She knew she didn't need to talk to him tonight. "I'm good Pete."

"You need me to take you home?" He offered.

"No, it's your party. I'm okay." She smiled.

"You are drunk." He laughed.

"Yeah, but I'm okay." She giggled.

"I know. I'm telling Herrmann you need to go home." He poked her side.

"Ah! Don't do that." She swatted his hand.

"What are you squawking about?" Herrmann walked out of the back.

"She's hit her limit and she needs to go home." Mills laughed. "She says she's okay."

"I'm staying out of this one." Herrmann shook his head.

"If I go talk to Jeff will you all leave me alone?"

"God yes!" Shay laughed.

She rolled her eyes. "Fine. He's kind of my ride anyway."

Shay laughed louder. "Hey Clarke!" She motioned him over.

"Yes ma'am?" He walked over to them.

"We've decided…" She began but dissolved into giggles.

"They think I've hit my limit and need to go home." Maggie rolled her eyes.

"I'll take you home if you're ready, but it's entirely up to you." He felt bad for snapping at her.

She glanced at Mills, who nodded at her. "Alright. I'm ready." She took her boyfriend's outstretched hand.

"Goodnight you two!" Shay cheered. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."

Maggie shook her head and Clarke chuckled. "So basically we can do anything." He smirked.

"Basically." She agreed as they walked outside.

"I am so sorry for snapping at you." He touched her face with his free hand. "I swore to myself, I'd never do that to you."

"I know." She said softly. "I shouldn't have reacted the way I did."

"It's probably good that you did though. Mills chewed me out. I deserved it." He shrugged. "Forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you. I love you Jeff." She let go of his hand to hug him.

"I love you too."

"Let's go home." She smiled.

He nodded, thinking she meant the Herrmann residence.

"And wherever you are is home to me." She beamed.

Jeff Clarke felt his heart soar. "Let's go home." He kissed her.

I hope you all enjoyed it. :) Thanks for reading!