Title: A New Start
Chapter 14 – Whispers & Lies
"Okay so….the plan is. We're going to leave first thing tomorrow morning and then…I'm just so mad that she couldn't even compromise!" Shay fumed as Kelly offered a sympathetic glace. "Say I told you so."
"Not worth it," he retorted glumly. "Just get the movers to do it and then come back here. I gave you the address for the loft. Check it out and then give me the thumbs up or down."
"You like it?"
"I do and it has the spare bedroom just in case. We'll share for now and then…whatever right?" Kelly suggested as she slowly nodded. "There's an open House at George's school next week that I want him to attend. Along with Caitlin and Naomi and the Herrmann hoard," he ended with a chuckle. "Or just call and get someone to pack up or…"
"No I'll do it. I told her I was back next week so I'll be back tomorrow, George will help me pack everything up. I'll get Roger and Alice to help me and then we'll be back."
"Can I stay with daddy?" George asked with an adoring smile.
"As much as I want to give in I can't sweetie. Daddy has to work and I haven't figured out…Kelly I have to give notice! Ah this is…."
"Boden can make a few calls. Or I can get Tiberg to pull a favor. I think he owes my old man one or two. Take a leave you have vacation coming right?" Kelly mused.
"I want to stay with daddy," George said glumly as Kelly tousled his golden brown hair.
"I want that too buddy but daddy has to go to work and you don't have anyone to stay with you if mommy is busy," Kelly explained as he hoisted his son onto his lap.
"What about Grampa?"
"He's…working," Kelly replied slowly as Shay's lips pursed.
"But you're gonna come back with mommy to Philly and we're gonna pack up some things and then come here and stay with daddy okay?"
"For how long?"
"For…ever," Shay shrugged as Kelly grinned and nodded and George's face broke out into a wide smile.
"Okay so now that that is in place how about one more day in the pool?"
"YAY!"
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"Hey man…"
"Hey," Matt greeted Kelly the following morning as they met in the parking lot of Firehouse 51 and then slowly walked toward the entrance. "Shay, leave this morning?"
"Yeah, George too. He can't stay with Benny and I just didn't feel right putting him in daycare."
"He coulda stayed with my mom and Caitlin during the day."
"Thanks. Yeah might come to that when we're both working."
"She won't mind."
"Appreciate it. Besides…if he's there with Shay telling her he wants to come back…I think it might help her not give into any doubts."
"Doubts?"
"Her girlfriend…ah she's just…Clarice. I know she'll give some sob story if she finds out Shay is moving here so I told her not to tell Clarice. Just pack up the stuff and get her and George back here. Hope she listens. How was your park date?" He asked as Matt's face broke into an obvious smile. "That good huh?"
"It was just…Dawson met us at the park and the three of us…well mostly Caitlin played on the bars and such while we watched and talked and just got to know each other. And after that…dinner at Applebee's," he concluded with a smile.
'I had a great time today,' Dawson told Matt in truth as the two of them slowly walked behind a skipping Caitlin on the way back to their. 'You have a great daughter.'
'It was fun. You two seemed to bond really well.'
'Just seems to come naturally. Glad you asked me.'
'Daddy can we go to Applebees for supper?'
'I'll see you tomorrow.'
'Unless…you wanna come with us?'
'Caitlin, is it okay if Gabby comes?'
'Sure,' the little girl smiled and nodded.
'I'll meet you there.'
"It was nice. With Caitlin there…you know, can't talk about anything too adult," Matt admitted as Kelly nodded in agreement. "So we talked about the park and the menu and then school. Gabby didn't seem bored or bothered."
"That's a plus," Kelly grinned as he gently ribbed Matt. "And…how did it end?"
"With a uh…" Matt stammered as his mind raced back in time once more.
'Had a great time,' Dawson told Matt as they lingered by her car while Caitlin nodded off inside the back of Matt's truck.
'Yeah me too.'
'Means…could be great again.'
'Adult date might be nice,' Matt suggested as Dawson gently giggled. 'I guess when you're a parent that sounds kinda si…' he stammered only to have her plant a soft kiss on his lips and pull back.
'Sounds kinda okay. Adult date. I like it.'
"Nice man!"
"Yeah…it was," Matt grinned as he recalled the romantic heat that started to grown between him and Dawson for only a few seconds and had to wonder what a real kiss would feel like. He wouldn't have to wait too long to find out.
"Did you hear about the school's open house next week?"
"Yeah Shay should be here and will take George. Think we have shift right?"
"Yeah. Dawson has the day off and said she'd take Caitlin."
"Great…her and Shay in the same space at the same time?" Kelly offered a mock horrible face.
"Be afraid."
"Be very afraid," Kelly concluded as both men laughed. "No trust me the more friends Shay makes the better and if Dawson wants her to stay I think it'd be hard to say no to her also."
"Oh that's for sure," Matt chuckled as they neared the entrance of the Firehouse. "And after yesterday I think I'll ask Gabby out on an adult date," he paused with a smirk as Kelly nodded. "Time for some adult bonding time."
"I asked Erin after the barbeque and she said yes. Scary right?"
"First adult date with a new woman is always scary. Especially…if you've been out of the game for a while you know?"
"Hear that…last one was…horrible," Kelly groaned as Matt cast him a sympathetic glance. "Erin, she…I hope it works. I do but I don't want to get my hopes up too much you know?"
"Yeah…hard on the kids. Gabby seemed so natural around Caitlin but…yeah one step at a time."
"Morning," Dawson greeted them as they entered the kitchen.
"Morning," Matt smiled as he took the mug of coffee from her hands. "Thanks."
"Had fun last night. Oh…and I left something on your desk," Dawson offered a mischievous grin as she pulled away and headed for her partner.
"Something?" Kelly countered as Matt shook his head. "I'm gonna talk to Boden about an update."
"I'll drop my jacket and see you there. Hope he has some good news…like the case is closed."
XXXXXXXX
"Anything you can remember would be great," Erin gently prodded the old man as Jay's eyes started to survey the landscape in the house behind him. "This man, Ernest Jackson," Erin held up a picture of their arsonist. "He lived across the street from you about fifteen years ago. Do you remember him? Or his family? Son maybe?"
"Ernest…Jackson…yeah I remember him. His house I think burned down in a fire just after his wife died."
"Died?" Erin and Jay traded wondering glances before she looked back at him. "But…I thought she left him?"
"He was pretty mum about it, but one day I was in behind his house looking for my cat…damn cat was named Popeye," he paused with a chuckle. "My Edith…she loved that damn cat. Anyway, the thing got away and I went looking all around the block for it. I paused behind his yard when I heard him talking to someone. I asked if he had seen my cat and he opened the gate and said no. I asked who he was talking to and he said his wife's ashes and then just shrugged. I asked when she died and he said a few days earlier…something like that but didn't elaborate. Well I figured nothing odd about that as people die all the time. She was a young woman but he didn't offer much more so I didn't push. Never found the damn cat."
"So…he didn't say how she died? And his son? Did you ever see him?"
"Arthur? Not often. The few times he played outside in the front he seemed happy. I mean for an only child with no friends."
"No friends at all?" Jay pressed.
"Not that I saw. The block had other kids but they never seemed to play together. Course…I never saw them all the time so maybe they did. Sad thing when that boy died in the fire. Ernest. He wasn't the same after that."
"What do you mean?"
"He…he just seemed so empty. Said it was his fault. Never forget it. Even now…still see his face after the fire. What's going on?"
"Just trying to track down a few details related to that fire."
"I don't remember how it started. Was outside in my back yard when I smelt the smoke but figured maybe it was someone using a barbeque. Wasn't until I heard the sirens near that I went to take a look and saw the house on fire with Ernest outside shouting for his boy to come out."
"Come out? He didn't go in to try to get him?" Erin asked with a heavy frown as Jay's lips pursed.
"Most parents would go in for their kids."
"Yeah…maybe that's why he blamed himself. Wish I could remember more. Watching a house burn with a child inside…never forget that."
"Yeah…" Erin agreed somberly. "Thank you."
"Sure you two don't wanna stay for tea?"
"Another time," Jay smiled as the two of them took their leave to rejoin their two other team members. "What the hell…the wife died? He left his son inside?"
"Something doesn't add up," Erin agreed as Ruzek and Atwater neared them. "Any luck?"
"Caught up with a nosy Nelly," Atwater started as Ruzek rolled his eyes. "What man? She called herself that. She said she knew Edith Jackson. They would have a gossip session like every Saturday before she said she could no longer take living with Ernest and left."
"What?" Both Erin and Jay asked at once.
"We talked to a guy who said she died. And the boy?"
"Said he died in the fire that his father started it to teach him a lesson."
"Wow okay so…which story is the truth?"
Erin's mind started to spin as she listened to all the conflicting stories about the Jackson family. "We need to regroup. This case just got a lot more complicated."
XXXXXXXX
"Glad that they cleared 51 but still troubling that we're still a target," Kelly pondered as he, Matt and chief Boden stood before the large map with the arson sites marked in red and the two houses in green.
"Yeah and who else. Two other houses in this area. Did either house respond to call that was the fire that killed Jackson's son?" Matt inquired.
"51 did. Both Caplan and Jackson were on duty that day."
"Damn it…he targeted them specifically," Kelly grumbled.
"Herrmann too," Boden added as both Matt and Kelly looked at him seriously. "CPD is going to reopen the case files and see what they can find."
"This guy could be anywhere…waiting to strike. We gotta find him chief…" Kelly's voice died out as he looked back at the map.
"And anyone could be a target…who else was on duty that day chief?" Matt asked next.
"I'll get that list."
XXXXXXXX
"So…how's the new guy with the kid?"
Dawson looked up as Brett neared and asked her question with a large, bright smile. "It's too early for you to gloat," she playfully chided.
"Can't believe I'm right."
"Yeah…me too," she paused as she looked at Brett with a small frown.
"Caitlin seems like a great kid."
"She is. I was at the park with them yesterday and it's hard not to get sucked further into their world. I just worry that I'll say or do something wrong and have them both mad at me."
"Don't you remember what it was like when I first met Diego? I couldn't say or do anything right. Your brother he told me to just keep trying. I have an ex to contend with. You don't have that. Might sound a bit callous but it's true. Makes it a bit easier. I think. Or maybe I've just had a few months more practice," Brett concluded with a smile.
"Erin's at least got it a bit easier. Kelly's kid's mom is gay."
"Shay is gay?"
"Yup…Erin has no competition and someone to help who actually wants her there."
"Never thought we'd be trading notes on dating guys with kids," Brett mused as Dawson cast her a knowing smile.
"Come on…let's go stock the ambo."
On the way out of the laundry room, Dawson watched her brother enter 51 and neared him. "Hey…here to see Brett or the chief?"
"Both," Antonio shot back teasingly. "How was your date yesterday?"
"Fun. A family date."
"Never thought I'd hear you say that…and with a smile no less," Antonio teased as his sister playfully punched his arm.
"Just…" Dawson started as the overhead paging system sounded – a call for Ambulance 61. "Guess just Boden," she winked as Antonio just rolled his eyes. Dawson pulled away from her brother and rushed toward her waiting partner.
Matt entered the kitchen area just in time to watch Dawson get into the front of the ambulance and flip the sirens. Just before she pulled out, she glanced to the left caught his eye and offered him a warm smile; something that helped to settle his somewhat troubled mind. On the up side he wanted to thank her personally for the homemade cookies that he promptly hid from the rest of the team.
"Hey Matt!" Antonio greeted as he neared.
"Hey," Matt replied as he neared and the two of them clasped hands a few seconds and then pulled back. "What's going on?"
"Update for Boden. You and Kelly might wanna hear this."
"You have something more in addition to 63 also being hit?"
"Just wanted to know if Boden had a record of who was on duty the night of the Jackson fire?"
"We were just wondering that ourselves. Think he's calling Tiberg's office to get that."
"Chief Watson from 63 is doing the same; trying to narrow down a list of possible targets."
"So not…us," Kelly stated as Antonio looked at him thoughtfully. "No just…"
"You have something more on this?" Antonio interjected in haste.
"No…sorry it's nothing related. Glad it might not be us but we're worried about our teams," Kelly replied to Antonio in haste. "We need that list."
"We'll get that," Antonio assured him. "But…don't think for a second that Jackson will stop with only the guys on duty the night of his fire. No one at 51 is safe until he's in jail or dead," Antonio stated fatefully.
XXXXXXXX
"What was that all about? Before we went to talk to Boden again," Matt inquired of Kelly as he hovered in the doorway of his office about half hour later.
Kelly leaned back in his chair and looked up at Matt with a heavy frown.
"You know this guy Jackson?"
"No…" Kelly huffed as Matt slowly eased himself into a nearby chair. "This case got me thinking about the guy who I keep running into…in unfortunate ways. Maybe there was a call that I was on…maybe it was dad…something happened to him and he's held a grudge ever since."
"Would have to be one hell of a grudge for him to revisit it after you leave and come back to town," Matt mused as Kelly's lips pursed. "How would he even know you're back? Unless…"
"Unless what?" Kelly interjected.
"There was no announcement made and even the Boden said 63 hadn't heard our names when he called him. How did this guy know you're back in town? He must have a CFD connection somewhere."
"Yeah…makes sense," Kelly nodded as he turned back to his computer. "Now I just gotta find that one call…" he paused as Matt looked at him in wonder. "Course…the Chief at my old house is gone now. Maybe I can get Voight to pull a few files for me also."
"Aren't you dating his detective?"
"Yeah, that'll sweeten the deal," Kelly deadpanned as Matt chuckled. But before he could pick up the phone, the overhead paging system went off and it was all hands on deck. "I'll text him on the way to the call."
"Watch your back out there, never know what we're going into," Matt reminded him as he pulled away and rushed down the hallway.
"Right," Kelly muttered under his breath as he closed his computer and followed suit. He pulled his boots on as Boden shouted out a few instructions; once again he reminded them to keep themselves on alert for anything in the MO of their arsonist, despite CPD having a man undercover on the scene.
Dawson and Brett who were just finishing up at Med, got the call and hurried back outside toward Ambulance 61 and then their intended destination.
"Squad! We'll take the right! Masks on and stay alert!"
"Copy! We'll take the left entrance and work our way toward the back. Everyone…stay alert!" Matt told his team as Boden watched with nervous anxiety as the teams pulled away and then disappeared into the burning structure; Ambulance 61 arriving a few minutes later.
"Dark in here…" Kelly muttered into his radio. "Newhouse! Capp! Take the south side! Cruz!..." he started and then paused as he thought he saw a dark figure outlined in the distance.
"Severide! Say again!"
"Cruz! Vent that door for Casey's team."
"Copy!"
"Kelly…what is it?" Matt asked as he slowly made his way through the smoky atmosphere to where he thought Severide was.
"Thought I saw something. Was nothing…" he brushed it off quickly. "Fire department! Call out!"
But just as he neared the middle of the structure, he pulled down a piece of ceiling tile that hung in his way only to let out a small gasp.
"Severide? Location!"
"Casey, what's going on?" Boden inquired as Dawson heard Matt's name being called and hurried toward their superior. "Casey…talk to me."
"Heading to where Severide is now. He…he was just here…chief something's wrong."
Casey looked up and saw Severide wrestling with someone as some fiery debris perched overhead threatened to fall on them.
"Casey what is it?"
"The arsonist…I think Ernest Jackson is in here!"
"What?"
"SEVERIDE! LOOK OUT!" Casey shouted before the unthinkable happened.
A LOUD BANG…FOLLOWED BY A FIREY BOOM AND THEIR WORLD EXPLODED INTO ORANGE AND THEN QUICKLY FADED TO BLACK.
A/N: Uh…uh oh…Jackson is out for blood…or is it him they are seeing? Hmm for that you gotta tune in next week *evil laugh* So a bit more family time, Shay's plan to move to Chicago, a dawsey family date, and some more strange case details. What is the truth about who Ernest Jackson and his past? Hmm is anyone safe? Would love your thoughts so please do review before you go and thanks so much!