Chapter 25 We Didn't Start The Fire

With the fire out, Truck and Squad returned to 51. Ambulance 61 was transporting one of the injured victims. Coffee was poured and everyone settled into their favorite seats. Hermann turned on the television, and Pouch settled on Mouch's lap.

Feeling restless, Jeff got up from the squad table and walked out to the truck bay. He couldn't figure out why what Kaitlyn had said earlier that morning had weirded him out. It wasn't like she was already pregnant. He had checked her prescription that morning, and all of her pills had been accounted for. Yet, somehow, he had a nagging feeling.

His phone buzzed and he reached into his pocket. He checked the text sender. He smiled and opened it.

"Love and miss you. Sorry I freaked you out this AM. K."

He started to text back when he noticed the ambulance pulling in. He dropped his phone into his pocket and made his way over to Shay and Dawson. "Coffee's on if you need some," he said as they closed the doors.

"What are you, the Welcome Wagon?" Shay teased.

"You could say that."

Shay followed him outside the building. "You ok?"

"I'm ok. Just working through something that happened this morning."

"Clarke, you know you have to get a hold of it, whatever it is. You need to be able to go home to Katie."

"Yeah, I know. She just kind of weirded me out this morning. She said something that could have almost been prophetic. Anyway, it's probably nothing. And really, it wouldn't be a bad thing, just bad timing."

"She's pregnant isn't she?" Shay blurted out.

"She says no. We're in agreement to wait till after the wedding and after we sell the house."

"But you're thinking about it."

"Kinda hard not to, Shay."

"You'll be a great father when the day comes. Don't sweat it."

"Thanks."

Off shift, Clarke slipped through the door of the house. He found a note on the kitchen table.

"Sorry I couldn't be here. Early meeting with boss. Coffee is hot and pancakes are in foil in the microwave. All my love, K."

He smiled. She made time to make him breakfast before she left for work. Lisa would never have done that. He heated up the pancakes and sausage, opened a container of Oikos, and sat down at the table. As he ate, he realized how much he missed sharing breakfast with Kaitlyn. He felt bad for being creeped out by her comments the day before, so he decided to do something nice for her.

He picked up his phone and went upstairs to shower. As he set his phone on the bathroom counter, he noticed a plastic stick sitting next to his razor. He picked it up and saw a minus sign in the little window. He shook his head. It was apparent that Kaitlyn wanted him to know she wasn't pregnant. A feeling of disappointment briefly washed over him. He had spent the past 24 hours thinking about the possibility of fatherhood, only to now find out it wasn't going to happen for at least nine more months. While he was disappointed, he was also relieved. He wasn't sure either of them was ready for a child.

He stripped and stepped into the shower, smiling in amusement when he saw Kaitlyn's Sea Island Cotton body wash bottle. Why she couldn't just use a bar of soap like everyone else was beyond him. She said she wanted to smell good for him. He picked up the container and gave it a sniff. 'Yep, smells like Kait,' he observed as he set the bottle back on the shelf and picked up his bar of soap.

Kaitlyn kicked off her shoes and set her briefcase down in the hallway. She had forgotten how hot July could be in Chicago. She glanced up as Jeff appeared at the top of the steps. "Wow!" she exclaimed as she took in his suit and tie. "You DO clean up nice."

He smiled. "Grab a shower and get dressed. We're going out for dinner."

"Something happen on shift?"

"No. I just feel like taking my lady out for a very nice dinner."

She started up the steps, giving him a deep kiss when she reached the top. "Mr. Clarke, you look so hot, I just might have to have you for dessert."

"Go," he said as he swatted her bum. "I'll be downstairs."