A\N: Wow! It's been so long since I've updated this story and I'm so sorry. This chapter is shorter then usual and I apologize.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything.

Spoilers: None

Warinings: None

Chapter 20

"FIRE DEPARTMENT CALL OUT!" Severide shouted as loud as he could as he and Squad three waded through the smoke filled hallways of the hotel.

There had been an electrical fire in the wiring that had caused the huge fire. Most of the top floors had been evacuated and cleared by Truck. However the conference rooms where the Senator's were meeting had gotten the worst fire damage. The walls and ceilings were already falling because of the heat and flames.

All but two of the Senator's registered to attend the conference that day ha made it out. One of the one's who hadn't was Gabby's cousin Stella. While all available fire fighters searched the building fir them Kelly and Matt each had different reactions to the news.

Kelly had enjoyed his time with Stella and found her intriguing. She was incredibly good looking but she didn't act like she used it to get what she wanted at all. Instead she used her brains and wit to get things done. After what Matt had said about her having some struggles he did more research and found out she was a huge crusader for woman's rights and for ending poverty. Her staff included only woman, and she issued ten scholarships a year for underprivileged youth.

"Lieutenant there's two people in the room ahead of you. One's stuck under a TV, pretty badly hurt. Woman appears to be okay, just some cuts." Cruz said through his radio as he ran into the room. He knew it would take at least two people to move the TV off the man.

"Alright!" Severide jogged over to where Cruz was, "Ambulance 61 be advised we have two more casualties."

"Copy," Brett replied.

Even through the smoke and the fire Severide could clearly see that Stella was the woman in trouble. She was just barely conscious trying to pay attention to what was going on.

"Stella… Senator Dawson," Severide corrected himself as he rushed over to her, "What happened?" He looked at the man beside her who had a TV on top of his legs.

"TV fell on him…. Didn't want to go," Stella gasped out as she struggled for breath.

"The TV hit Senator Dawson in the head Sir," The young man spoke up, "I tried to tell het to leave but she wouldn't. "I'm an intern for Senator McRyan. Mu name's Liam."

"Well Liam we're going to try to move this off of you alright," Kelly explained as he and Cruz got into position to try and move the large item.

"Alright," He nodded and Severide and Cruz lifted the TV up and then over. Liam's legs were badly crushed and he'd probably loose the use of them. Carefully lifting Liam up Cruz ran out of the building.

Kelly looked at Stella who was now semi awake, he lifted her up and held her in his arms. Her head fell onto his shoulder and he felt something he'd never felt before. He ran out of the building and straight to a waiting ambulance.

"I'm going with you!" He announced to the paramedics, "She's uh…. A friend," He knew he could have lied better but with media around he didn't want to say to much. He had a feeling they'd already be spinning some kind of story thanks to the gala.

"Severide!" Chief Boden called him back just as he was climbing into the ambulance, "We still need you here! You can go to the hospital later!"

Severide turned around and watched the ambulance drive off. The building was clear and now all that needed to be done was get the fire out. Squad never dud that anyways. He wanted to say something but knew that he really wasn't allowed to leave the scene with an ambulance anyway. And since when did he care so much about Stella anyways?

The Next Day

Gabby shut the lid on her laptop and put it on the table as she stood up. After talking to her father and to Secret Service agents she had finally been able to book a trip for her and Matt to Europe. Everyone knew about her ex-boyfriend now that the FBI's investigation was in full swing, and with the Special People Magazine issue on her family coming out in two weeks Gabby wanted to get away. She knew Matt had a week of vacation time so she booked for them to go to Amsterdam. Two Secret Service agents were going to go with them and she booked a private tour guide from a well-known company. Since she couldn't go to to many places without it being to dangerous the tour guide could help pick the best times and even shut places down while she gave them private tours.

"Hey Babe!" Matt walked through the front door; putting his construction tools by the front door he walked over and gave her a kiss. "Have you had lunch yet because I was going to make a sandwich." He walked to the kitchen.

"No. I was just about to make something," Gabby followed him, "So was Antonio able to get a hold of you. I gave him your cell number. He wouldn't tell me what he was calling about," Gabby looked at her boyfriend a little bit suspicious. She didn't want her family to go to any great lengths to make her feel better and she wasn't sure she liked Antonio and Matt having secret talks.

"Yeah, I called him back on my way home. He's trying to get Illinois to fund new fire safety equipment and other things for first responders. H was wondering if I could go to D.C. next week and talk to some people about it. He and Stella are holding some meetings. He was going to ask me before but it's been so busy. Luckily I'm not working so I'm going to go Thursday to Saturday. You can come if you want."

Gabby was glad Antonio trusted Matt enough to help him with this bill proposal. Helping first responders was something Antonio had always been passionate about and he wanted to implement tools that woukd help them. Sine he had first hand experience in the field most of his ideas had been very well received. Although there ere some that would cost more money then others. Those were the ones he was having a hard time getting approved funding for.

"No it's alright," She sat down at the counter, "I know its last minute but I feel like I need to get away from everything so I booked us a vacation to Amsterdam in two weeks. I know you have a week's vacation to use and I've always wanted to go to go there."

"No, no its alright," Matt understood why she'd want to get away, it had been a tough few months for her. He could see she was still struggling and wanted to find ways to help her. Going to Europe might actually help him with a few things he was planning on doing while he was in D.C. "I can get the time off. You ever think about moving back to D.C?"

"Yeah," Gabby nodded her head; "I've gotten offers from hospitals there; and my family's there too. But I don't want to ask you to leave Chicago; as much as it's been awful for me you love it here. All of your friends re here and you have a great job."

"I'd move in a heartbeat," Matt assured her wondering if looking at house was something else he could do while he was in D.C. He had already talked to Laura and asked for her help. He was sure she'd help him look at houses too. He made a reminder for himself to ask Gabby's Secret Service Agents for advice on what would make the safest house for her.

"I know, but for now I'm good here. I go back to work tomorrow. I feel guilty having to take so much time off. They've been great though, really understanding."

"That's good," Matt leaned over the counter and kissed her as he handed her a ham and cheese sandwich.

"I'm not interrupting am I?" Kelly asked as he leaned agansit the door. Stella was sitting up in bed talking to, who Kelly presumed to be one of her staff.

"Kelly," Stella turned to look at him with a smile, "You hear they're finally letting me out of here."

"Yeah you causes to much trouble for them," He laughed as he walked into the room, "I'm…uh glad you're alright," He said as he scratched the back of his ear. Stella had been admitted overnight for observation but appeared to have come out of the while ordeal all right. Which considering how bad it could have been was a relief.

"Yeah," Stella looked at her Chief of Staff and the younger woman exited the room closing the door on her way. "Thanks again for saving me."

"Gabby woukd have killed me if I had let you die."

"Yeah," Stella chuckled, "So uh Antonio and I are trying to get funding for new equipment for fire fighters in the state and we're having some meetings next week. They're in D.C. but maybe you could come and try and help us out. Matt's going too," She added trying to make it sound more appealing to him.

Kelly shrugged her shoulders trying to act like he didn't care, "Sure. Maybe I can see Maddie again too."

"Yeah sure," Stella nodded her head, "That woukd be great." She knew that her parents woukd want to meet him too but didn't want to tell him that. They weren't; even officially dating and that would terrify him and make him run. If her parents insisted on meeting him him she'd at least invite Matt and Antonio and Laura along to make it less intimating for him.

"I heard Liam's going to have to be in a wheelchair," Kelly, who was feeling a bit uncomfortable, brought up the man who has been rescued with her.

"Yeah, the couldn't save them, they were to badly damaged," Stella confirmed, "But he's very much grateful for what you did for him. You should go and visit him. He's in room 408 upstairs."

"No, no I don't want to intrude," Kelly couldn't imagine how much the man's family was till trying to deal with everything that had happened."

"He asked to speak to the fire fighters who saved him," She told him, "I went to see him yesterday."

"Alright," Severide nodded his head and turned to go; looking back at her he walked back over to her and kissed her. It took her a few minutes but he kissed him back. Once they needed to breath Kelly stepped away from her and walked out of the room, stopping outside of the door he said, "See you in D.C."

"Yeah," Stella confirmed. Although she was still trying to gain control of her breathing she didn't want Kelly to see that.

TBC

A\N: So what is Laura going to help Matt with in D.C?