Confrontations - Part Two of Secret Is Out
The final few hours of shift had passed by in a quiet radiating tension and everyone was relieved when 8am came as they could leave the firehouse especially given that there had been no calls since 61 had returned, and Kelly and Sylvie had been caught kissing in the locker room by Stella.
Sylvie slipped her hand into Kelly's as she raised her bag up onto her shoulder as the two left the Squad table where they had convened heading for their cars as they had driven separately to work. She pressed her face into his shoulder briefly feeling the tiredness set in. "I'll pick up breakfast from Breakfast House and meet you back at mine. I think we should eat then have a nap." Kelly knew she was coming home to his as they had already spoken about it before they had changed out of their uniforms and grabbed their bags. "And maybe we should continue what we started this morning after our nap." Sylvie smirked seeing him smirk back. "That's an excellent plan for the day." He said before he kissed her temple as they reached the sidewalk.
"Brett! Wait up!" Cruz called out making them both stop and look back at a quickly approaching Cruz with Otis not far behind him. "Can we talk... alone?" Cruz asked once he reached them as he glanced at Kelly.
"Sure... I'll catch up with you." Sylvie felt it was only fair to talk to them, to hear them out, especially after she has inadvertently lied to them. She saw Kelly nod and felt as he slipped his hand out of hers before he stepped away leaving the three of them to talk. He had no doubt that Sylvie could handle herself but he still felt protective and somewhat hesitate to leave her alone but he had to respect her, and decided it was better to get breakfast and be at home when she arrived rather than arriving after her. She lightly folded her arms over her chest after she watched him pull his mustang away from the curb.
Cruz watched the way Sylvie smiled as she glanced back over at Kelly as he got into his car before she turned back to them. It was that simple look between the two that spoke volumes and made almost everything he was going to say seem wrong because who was he to hurt her when she was happy and he knew she had been happy for the last several months before he even knew the reason. He glanced at Otis before he turned back to her as she was waiting for either of them to speak first.
"Severide? Really?" Otis tutted still reeling from the early morning announcement. His words immediately had Sylvie on guard.
"What's that supposed to mean Otis?" Sylvie asked defensively already hating where this conversation was going, and that it was being held outside of the firehouse.
"Come on Brett, he's a man whore and you're just another one of his conquests, another name to add to his ever growing list... This isn't you, you don't hurt your friends... Whatever he said to get you into his bed, to spread your legs for him, must have been really special... Did he tell you he loved you? That you were special? That he had never felt anything like what he feels for you before?..." Otis' words was mockingly distasteful and hurtful as they flowed out of his mouth without any second thoughts.
"Otis!" Cruz reprimanded stopping him seeing how pained she was by what he was saying. He placed his hand on Otis' chest and pushed him back a small distance to create some space.
Sylvie bit down on her lip as she unfolded her arms and hefted her bag strap higher up on her shoulder. "Is there anything you want to add?" Her question was directed at Cruz who knew this conversation had gotten completely out of hand. There was nothing she could say to Otis, not when he thought so little of her and of Kelly and of their relationship.
"Are you happy, I mean really happy?" Cruz had to ask, he had to know. After all, she deserved to be happy even if he didn't necessarily agree with her choices.
"You're asking if she's happy?" Otis' voice was several octaves higher as he asked in disbelief at how Cruz had softened so suddenly.
"I am, I really am." Sylvie was happy, and it wasn't solely because she was with Kelly but he was a large part of her happiness although given their current attitudes she was not about to explain that to either of them. "I'll see you next shift." She decided to remove herself from the situation and even though she still lived with them she figured that giving them some space would be best and she loved being with Kelly at his apartment. She turned around, not giving them any time to reply, and walked away grateful that she had parked close by as she wanted nothing more than to be away from almost everybody.
Chicago Fire
Kelly was concerned as he moved round the kitchen as the coffee brewed having stopped and picked up their breakfast on his way home. He couldn't help but be worried from the moment he pulled away from the curb of the firehouse, feeling as though he had fed her to the wolves in a way as he had seen how they had reacted when they had walked into the common room together. Before his thoughts got too far, Sylvie walked through the door and quickly shut and locked it behind her as she let her bag sit down next to his. She crossed the room and walked straight into his arms which he wrapped around her tightly holding her to his body as she wrapped her own arms tightly around his body and pressed her face into the centre his chest. He could feel how tense she was and how her breaths were harsh due to their shallowness, and he knew that it hadn't gone well between her, Cruz and Otis.
After a few moments she pulled her head away from his chest and craned her neck back so that she was looking up at him. "Let's have breakfast." She knew they had to talk, had to discuss what had happened but she was starving and the delectable smell of one of her favourite breakfast's from Breakfast House - the Chef's Special Crepes that were served with fresh blueberries, strawberries and dulce de leche sauce while Kelly had the Challah Oven Baked French Toast with diced caramelized apples although they usually ended up sharing. "It's ready and waiting." He begrudgingly unwrapped his arms from around her but before he could completely, she leaned up and captured his lips with hers, kissing him passionately. She poured every ounce of emotion into that kiss only pulling away when they were both left gasping for air.
They both took a seat at the table, and Kelly poured them both a large cup of freshly brewed coffee. He reached his hand out to hers, entwining their fingers together as they began to eat. He wanted to ask, wanted to know, but he had to let her open up to him without pushing her. "The only thing Joe asked me was if I was happy, and I assured him I was, I am." Her first words once they were about half way through their meals made him visibly relax as he knew Cruz was looking out for her because he cared but he tensed at how cautiously she spoke as if she was choosing her words very carefully. "Okay... what about Otis?" He hesitated to ask but clearly something had happened that had her rattled.
Sylvie let her eyes drop to their joined hands and she put her fork down before she looked back up, her eyes found his. There was a part of her that felt attacked, a part of her that wanted to cry, and a part of her that was so angry that she wanted to scream. She knew that Kelly would be hurt for her, would be disappointed, and would feel some sort of misguided guilt; it was the last thing she wanted as she had meant what she had said in his quarters hours earlier that he had nothing to apologise for, not for them being together or for the grief they had been and would be given. "He was cruel, unfair... unjust..." It was the easiest way to explain what he had said without repeating it although she knew he wasn't going to let it go that easy.
"What was it he actually said?" He could see how pained whatever had been said had left her, and he had to know so he could help somehow. "He was derogatory... it doesn't matter... and I really don't want to relive it." She wanted to spare him as she shook her head softly as nothing that had been said was worth repeating. "Please Kelly, let's just finish our breakfast then have the nap that we both need and want." She preempted him as she could see that he was worried but they were both exhausted, and all she wanted was to spend the day with him as they had planned. "Okay..." He nodded as he unwillingly accepted that the conversation was over for the immediate time but he knew her and knew she would tell him eventually.
Chicago Fire
Sylvie let her fingertips swirl over Kelly's bare skin, up and down his chest and torso, with a featherlight touch as she watched him sleep peacefully. As exhausted as she felt she just couldn't fall asleep even with his arms wrapped around her. She swore that she could watch him sleep forever considering how peaceful he looked and how at ease he was but she loved seeing his gorgeous blue eye too even when they were stormy.
Sylvie's mind went back to Otis's words, to the way he was so quick to be so cruel about the man who held her in his sleep and who had her heart especially without any of the facts. It wasn't a new revelation that she loved him, that she felt more for him every day, but it was different somehow this time and she knew it was because she did not have to hide her feelings any longer, that they did not have to hide their relationship any longer. The truth was that crush that she had when she first met him had not gone away instead she had kept it well hidden until he uncovered it from the dark and dusty corner of her heart, reignited it like petrol covered wood that had a match flicked onto it, and made it bloom beautifully like a flower. He wasn't the man that she had first met just like she wasn't the woman he had first met; they had seen each other grow and change over the years, and with that came an understanding that they were more then their pasts, more than the way they were perceived by others.
She pressed her face into his shoulder with her nose pressed against his collarbone and she placed a soft kiss just below it to the skin that her lips could reach as she settled down knowing that even though sleep was not coming to her she could at least relax with him. She closed her eyes and kept twirling her fingers over his skin.
Chicago Fire
Kelly startled awake and it took a few seconds for him to register what had woken him up so abruptly which was that someone was banging on the door relentlessly. Sylvie was already moving away from him as he sat up with a groan, grumpy that their nap had been interrupted.
"Maybe if we ignore it, it will stop." He grumbled although whoever was knocking was persistent as he forced himself up and off of the bed before he reached for a pair of navy blue sweatpants and pulled them on so he could drag himself to answer the door. He glanced at Sylvie seeing she was getting out of the bed as well and pulling on a pair of black knee length tights and a long black cardigan over top of her red singlet top. He did notice however that she looked more exhausted than before he had fallen asleep as the dark circles under her eyes seemed to have darkened.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming!" Kelly yelled harshly annoyed at the interruption to the plans they had made as he made his way out of the bedroom. Not even him yelling out stopped the person from knocking, persistence was definitely driving whoever it was along with impatience.
Kelly unlocked and pulled the door open to find Stella standing there rocking back and forth on her heels. She looked past him which made him turn around as Sylvie walked out and stopped with wide eyes as the two women looked at each other.
"I just want to talk..." Stella held her hands up as if she was surrendering to signify that she was coming in peace. She knew that they had to work together so the least they could all do was work out how to be amicable to one another. And in the hours since she had watched them walk out of the common room she had calmed down and realised that she need to figure things out.
Kelly looked at Sylvie seeing her give him an almost imperceptible nod. "Come in." He said as he stepped aside although he was still on guard. "Want a coffee?" He asked as he shut the door after her. "No thanks." Stella answered as she looked around the apartment and it was clear to her how much he changed as there was Sylvie's things scattered around in between all of Kelly's things.
Sylvie wrapped her cardigan tightly around her body as she made her way over to the couch and Kelly joined her whilst Stella sat in the armchair. All three of them felt uncomfortable and nothing was going to change that for a while, if at all.
"I'm sorry, I could have… I should have given you both the chance to explain. I was just… I am still shocked." Stella began as she dug her hands into her own knees; she wanted to keep the conversation as calm and as rational as possible. There were so many emotions that she felt but she had spoken to Herrmann and Cindy after shift who had pointed out that she was wrong to tell everyone the way she did, and that it had been a long time since things did not work out with her and Kelly. They also had pointed out there was fault on both sides but that it would not have been easy for them either.
Sylvie glanced at Kelly before she turned to look at Stella. "We always planned to tell you, to tell everybody." Sylvie paused trying to figure out how to word what she wanted to say correctly while maintaining her and Kelly's privacy. "But we wanted to and needed to figure out our relationship first." It was the easiest way to explain without having to provide any further details despite it being a reiteration of what she had said earlier.
Stella nodded as she could understand how they wanted to keep what was going on between them out of the firehouse, she could guess that it was beneficial in the long term. "What Otis said to you Sylvie... I overheard him and he shouldn't have... I know both of you and I know that you would not have done all you have if it wasn't serious." She wrung her hands together as she spoke as she had realised that neither of them would have put themselves into the position they were in if the relationship was not serious and did not mean anything to them. She was still struggling as she still felt an array of emotions but she had overheard what Otis had said, had understood what had been insinuated, and she knew that it was wrong. Maybe hearing what Otis had said had also allowed her to gain some perspective before she had even talked it through with Herrmann and Cindy. "It's going to take some time for me to wrap my mind around, to get used to it." It was her way of telling them she didn't want it to ruin what they had but that she would need some time.
"Thank you." Kelly felt like he should thank Stella as he could see how uncomfortable she felt but he couldn't help but wonder what Otis had really said as it was a missing piece that was needed. He turned to Sylvie seeing her smiling softly before she instinctively turned towards him and with that small look he knew she was alright.
"I...uh... should get going." Stella stood up as she pointed lazily towards the door needing to take some time out for herself until the start of the next shift. It felt weird being in Kelly's apartment again after such a long time and especially with how everything had changed as it wasn't her things around but Sylvie's.
"Stella..." Sylvie paused until Stella turned back to look at her.
"I know, it's okay." Stella didn't let Sylvie say what she was going too. It was the subtle looks, it was the closeness, and it was who they were that told her all she needed to know about Kelly and Sylvie and their relationship; and that was that they were indifferent to what anyone else thought and they really did love each other, that there was an intimacy between them that neither of them had ever had before. With one final nod towards both of them she walked over to the door and let herself out.
Sylvie let out a breath as she turned to Kelly and within seconds she was sitting in his lap straddling him with her arms looked over his shoulders around his neck with her fingers rested on the nape of his neck. His large warm hands covered the expanse of her lower back. She had felt him tense and knew that she had to tell him about her conversation, or rather what Otis had said, especially now that Stella had alluded to it. Kelly knew she was gathering herself and he waited for her to talk.
"Whatever made me spread my legs for you must have been special...and that I was just another conquest... That's just a small part of what Otis said to me before Cruz stopped him." Her voice was soft but the hurt was evident as was the betrayal she felt. She felt Kelly tense beneath her, felt his hands tighten around her, and she could see how worried and angry he was. "What he said doesn't matter because he doesn't know us. I know the truth just as much as you do, and that is the only thing that matters. We know the truth. We know what we want. We have each other." She assured him that those distasteful words were simply that, words, and whilst they hurt they were not going to change things between them.
Kelly sat quietly as he processed what she had just told him. He was hurt for her, and he was angry that Otis dared to think of her like that. But she was right that they knew their truth and that mattered more than anything. However it didn't mean that he wouldn't be having a quiet word with Otis in the near future about being respectful and that if he couldn't be then to keep his mouth shut. "It still hurts you though." It was the only thing he could say before he tipped his head forward and pressed his forehead against hers. The silence settled between them as they both took comfort in each other knowing that they would face adversity but they knew their truth.
They stayed where they were for a few minutes before Kelly gently manoeuvred them so they were laying down on the couch together. They were laying on their sides facing each other as Sylvie entwined her legs with his as he pulled a blanket over them. She tilted her head up and gave him a soft smile before she leaned in and brushed her lips against his, drawing him in with a kiss which he was quick to reciprocate.
"You're a tease." She giggled softly as she pulled away from him but not without pecking his lips again before she dropped her head down into the cushion that they were sharing as his hands were roaming her body with a featherlight touch not staying in one spot for more than a few seconds and they were not going near where she wanted them the most.
"You love it." He replied with a smirk grateful for the lightness of it. He noticed her smile disappear and saw that she became solemn. "What is it?" He asked as he paused his hands in their roaming.
"Not so much of a secret anymore, and there have already been enough confrontations as it is… I just, with you, it all melts away. It's nice." She wasn't worried or stressed about the long term impact that their relationship would have on the relationships with the others because he and the life they were creating were what mattered. It was a weird revelation to think about but there was something calming about it too.
"We'll get through it all." They had built their relationship upon a solid foundation of years of friendship that wasn't about to be undone by the harsh reactions of those they loved. He pressed a kiss to her nose.
"We will." She was in agreement that they would. She felt herself relax just as his hands resumed their wondering as she pressed her face into his neck. She bit down on her lip stopping herself from telling him about her earlier realisation, from telling him that she loved him as she wasn't sure either of them were ready to say or hear it even though she felt his love just as he felt hers.