Fandom: One Chicago

Title: American Honey

Chapter 1: Love Is The Way Out

P O V: Matthew Casey

Gaffney Chicago Medical Center

3650 W. Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL

60647

"You lied to me?" Sylvie Brett's voice shakes with hesitation, suspicion her eyes are focused, staring straight at Julie in bewilderment. Julie lies in the hospital bed, holding her daughter, who is only three days old. Gently I take Brett's hand into mine, feeling her palms shake and sweat with nervous anger. My heart is breaking for her.

She's barely moved in ten minutes. Her arms remain motionless at her sides. I wouldn't even know she was breathing if it wasn't for her posture shaking.

All of us are in some form of shock at the news that Dr. Manning and Dr. Halstead dropped on us only moments before. Brett's eyes remain a mist a sailor lost, adrift at sea, a storm brewing. Sylvie's afraid but trying hard not to show it. Her eyes refuse to meet mine. She's struggling to maintain her vogue amiss the strong winds threatening to throw her off course.

"Yes, Sylvie, I lied. I am sorry it was never my intention to have it go this far. I m truly sorry."

"How far did you think it would go? How could you even think about doing this to me?"

"How did you even find me?" Julie remains stoic, feeding her baby girl, avoiding giving Brett a direct answer. In the seven and a half years that I have known Brett, I had never seen her this angry, not even two years ago when she and Gabby got into a massive blowout, which caused Gabby to quit 51 and run off to Puerto Rico.

"Hey Brett why don't we get out of here, I'll cook you some dinner put on some music, and we can relax by the fireplace with some beer." "Yo, Casey, that sounds amazing count Severide and I in right bae?" Stella Kidd comes closer, high-fiving me, throwing her arm over Brett's shoulders. "Yeah, sounds perfect. What do you say, Brett?" Kelly Severide, my roommate and best friend, comes closer to Brett.

"Yo, Brett, my main chick, if Julie can't even give you the human decency to answer you than you don't need to stay here, let's go home where you'll be surrounded by those of us who love and respect you."

"Why, Julie?"

"It started innocently enough when you came to my house in February. I was in a bad place. My husband and I were fighting."

"He didn't want me to go through with this pregnancy, but I knew there was no way I could end this pregnancy or put another baby up for adoption."

"I wondered every day since I was sixteen where you were if you were safe, well cared for, fed if you were happy. Did the people who adopted you raise you in the city or the country?"

"When you came to me, I was delighted. I needed a friend to talk to you were so innocent, bright-eyed, and eager to talk to make a connection. Which felt amazing getting to know you has been the highlight of my life. We have so much in common."

"So, you didn't start out lying?" Leslie Shay Brett's partner on Ambo stares daggers at Julie. "No, I didn't. It wasn't till a month or so later when the adoption agency called me to tell me they had mixed up the files and given me the wrong name. I wanted to tell you."

"So why didn't you?"

"I tired I wanted to; then I found out my little girl was sick."

"Oh, and how perfect I volunteered to donate my stem cells for her and how convenient that I matched, there was no need to tell me then was there Julie?"

"I wanted to spare your innocence and youth you fell in love with this baby, we were starting to develop a relationship. It was wrong of me, Brett."

"No, Julie, it was criminal." I am not usually the confrontational type; however, right now, my temper is boiling. The thought of Sylvie's trust and heart being broken is killing me. "I tried every day to tell you I wore a mask of deceit, a facade; I wanted you to have a connection with your sister."

"Except she's not my sister Julie and you're not my biological mother. I am happy your daughter is safe, but we are not related, you lied to me, you betrayed me, you played me for a goddamn fool. You knew how much I wanted a connection, and you used my weakness against me. I believed you when you said you regretted that you missed my first steps, never knowing my first words, you said it was the fates that brought us together. It wasn't the fates; it was your lies, your multiplication."

"I can forgive a lot Julie but not this. Your little fantasy stops here. Jay, I want her arrested."

Brett clutches my hands tightly, her eyes shining in tears of an emotional tornado. "Matt, can we please go now? I need to get out of here." Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her close to my chest, "I'll drive Brett, you can stay with us since Shay has a carpooling duty."

"I won't lie to you, Brett. This won't be very pleasant to get through, but you have us to help you, and none of us will ever break a promise to you or betray you. We all love and respect you." Pressing my lips to her head, I cuddle her close hurrying her out of the room as I hear Jay Halstead read Julie her rights.

"No mater how the fates turn Brett, you have to find it in your heart to forgive, start with yourself, work your way up to Julie, it may take months or years, you don't need a relationship with her, but you can not let hate or anger take over your soul. Only love will help you heal, and you have a lot of that among us at turn to us when you feel overwhelmed, we are here."

"Thank you everyone. I know I am loved and I will do my best to not let this lie take me down. I have too much love and pride for myself to let someone else destroy my trust or my heart."