A/N: This chapter was written before "A Chicago Welcome" aired btw so anything in here about Brett being adopted was based on her one line about it to Gabby way back when. This chapter is a bit of a filler but I HAD to write the last half of this. I was DYING TO because I've had a line in my head for Herrmann to use since I was working on "Love Is Looking For You" and I never got the chance in that one lol.
Happy reading!
angellwings
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Take It To Heart
It's been a long time since Casey has spent so much time talking and laughing with a woman. He has questions — things he's been dying to know about Sylvie Brett — and she has answers. Most are basic questions that they'd never stopped to discuss. What is her family like? What are her hobbies? How does she cope with the job? Is Fowlerton as idyllic as it seems at first glance?
She fires back with her own questions. What's his sister like? How old is his niece? When did he know being a first responder was his calling? (Because it's what he's meant to do — she made certain to assure him of that.) She throws some of his questions back at him about hobbies and coping. She asks him what it was like growing up in Chicago and what his favorite things about the city are.
All of this conversation happens before, during, and after their meal. It stays lighthearted and encouraging, but as they pull up outside of the apartment building a more serious question occurs to him.
"Can I...can I ask you something that might be overstepping?"
She gives him a look that tells him she thinks he's being ridiculous. "Casey, we've known each other for a long time. Nothing you ask could be overstepping."
"Did you grow up knowing you were adopted?"
She smiles sadly at him and nods. "I was young when my parents adopted me but I was old enough to remember some things. The memories have mostly faded now, but I knew I had parents who gave me up. I still have this one glimpse of someone I think is my mom lingering in the back of my mind." She chuckles dryly and shrugs in an unaffected way he can see she doesn't feel. "But a two year old's memories aren't that reliable, you know? It could be anyone."
"I can't imagine that," Casey tells her with a mix of admiration and concern.
"Most of the time I didn't feel any different," she replies, worrying her bottom lip before she spoke. "I was lucky. I found a home with two people who loved me completely. Not only that but I actually favored them so a lot of people didn't think anything of it. There weren't that many questions around town."
"Most of the time?" He asks.
"I had my moments, still do sometimes, where I wondered why they didn't want me or why they aren't at least curious about me now. But those moments were fortunately pretty fleeting for me. That's not to say, they aren't hard when they happen but — I guess I just try to be thankful for the people I have instead of resentful toward the people who left. If that makes any sense."
Matt smiles warmly at her and nods slowly. "That makes perfect sense to me. Losing people, no matter how you lose them, seems to always make you appreciate the people who are still here."
"And keeps you from taking them for granted," she adds thoughtfully.
"Or it should," he says with a furrowed brow. "The older I get the more clearly I see myself. I tend to bury myself in something else or shut down when I lose someone. Unintentionally meaning that I do take everyone else for granted. Losing Darden, Otis, and even Gabby resulted in me jumping into work head first—"
"And elevator shafts," she tells him with a pointed glare.
He can see the affection hiding underneath it and chuckles with a self deprecating grin. "Not my wisest move. I know."
"I don't remember seeing you shut down, though," Sylvie says with a furrowed brow.
"I've learned better ways to cope over the years, but when I lost Hallie I lost myself for a while and then after my dad and my mom…" his sentence trails off. He can't seem to finish it. He's never done well talking about his family or even Hallie. He tried to keep those things in the past as much as possible.
Sylvie's hand covers his and squeezes. He ignores the slight jolt of electricity her touch causes and focuses on her words. "You don't have to talk about it, Casey. I know we've done a lot of talking today but we don't have to air it all out right now. It's okay. I understand."
He nods, appreciatively. He gets the feeling she's put together most of it on her own, anyway. Or maybe heard about it from other people. "Thank you, Sylvie."
"Anytime," she replies. "Thank you for breakfast and for the conversation. I've had a great time this morning."
"Me too," he agrees.
"So, now what?" She asks. "We seem to have talked about everything except where we go from here."
"Well, obvious answer, but I think we start with a date," he answers.
"I like it," she responds with an amused grin. "Simple, but effective."
He smiles softly and nods. "I think so."
"I promised I would make an appearance at Molly's tonight, so maybe tomorrow?" She asks eagerly.
"Sure," he answers with a nod. "I owe Severide a drink so we were planning to meet there tonight anyway. Need a ride?"
She laughs lightly and it sends a thrill zinging right through him. "So, we'll be hanging out in the same general vicinity all night but not on a date?"
"It would seem so."
"And then you're going car shopping with me again tomorrow morning?" She asks, amusement still coloring her cheeks. "And then we have a date? Eventually, isn't this just going to feel like one marathon of a date?"
And now he's laughing too. "I'm not complaining but you're right that is a bit…"
"Hilarious? Extra? The kind of ridiculous reserved specifically for 51?" She asks as she chuckles through her words.
"Well, we could kill two birds with one stone and turn car shopping into a date," Matt offers with a smirk.
"Make car shopping a date?" She asks him with wary narrowed eyes.
"Get breakfast on the way to the first lot and then maybe lunch later. Throw in the challenge of haggling a good price and a fair interest rate in between the flirting and - yeah, I think it could be a solid date," he declares half seriously.
She taps her chin thoughtfully with a singular finger and squints at him with a low hum. "Interesting. Guess we'll find out."
He quirks a brow and then smiles humorously. "I'm right. You'll see."
"I will be reserving judgment until tomorrow," she tells him with a quiet rolling snicker. "But I am definitely open to it."
Sylvie feels Matt's hand on the small of her back as they walk through the door at Molly's later that night. He probably hasn't even registered what he's doing or the message he's sending, but everyone else has. Severide and Stella exchange knowing glances, Foster hides a huge grin with a glass, and Chloe mouths 'I told you so' to Cruz. They've been outed before they've even managed a date. Figures.
It isn't until Herrmann acknowledges them as they both approach the bar that Matt catches on.
"Am I starting one tab or two?" He asks them with a smug grin.
"Funny," Matt replies dryly as he reluctantly removed his hand from Sylvie's back.
"Two," Sylvie answers, giving Herrmann her best silencing glare.
Herrmann is still grinning but he holds his hands up in a gesture of submission. "I was only asking the question on everyone's mind lately. My customers want answers and, any good businessman knows, what they want comes first."
Sylvie and Matt fight grins and simultaneously roll their eyes.
"Just bring us our usuals, Herrmann," Matt insists, a bemused look on his face.
"Coming right up," Herrmann says as he gets to work with a chuckle.
"Nice to know they care so much," Sylvie says with a deadpan tone and matching expression.
Matt snorts derisively and then laughs harder than she thinks her joke deserves. The action gains them more attention than they had before. Matt Casey laughing isn't a regular sight - not in recent years anyway. But he looks genuinely amused by her so she knows his laughter isn't exaggerated. She should also mention a laugh looks too damn good on his face and every woman in the bar notices.
He leans toward her with a fully formed teeth exposing smile, that almost stops her heart, and speaks, "You know how to pick your moments, Sylvie Brett. It's a talent that's unexpected and I like it a lot."
She blushes furiously as Herrmann returns with their drinks and smiles so hard her cheeks actually start to hurt. "I don't think anyone's ever complimented my timing before."
"Well, they should have. It's sharp," Matt tells her with a playful wink. "Let me know when you're ready to go. I'll be around."
She nods mutely and blinks after him. He winked at her. Matt Casey winked. Seeing this different and more intimate side of him is going to be an experience. She can already tell.
"Partner," Foster calls as she pats the empty chair next to her and across from Stella. "You've got some explaining to do."
Sylvie sighs, grabs her drink, and crosses the room to her friends. She fills in the empty chair Foster saved for her and then turns to Stella and Emily expectantly. "Yes?"
"Do you remember yesterday? When we were in the locker room at 51 and you told us that you and Casey were just friends?" Foster asks with a critical raised brow.
"I do," Stella answers, raising her hand.
"Well, Matt Casey just laughed, like full out belly laughed, smiled with teeth, and winked all in less than five minutes. At you, by the way. So, shall we try that conversation again?" Emily asks with sideways smirk.
Sylvie can't help but beam at them. She rubs her sore cheeks and then takes a long swig of her beer to hopefully give her time to stop blushing. It doesn't work. So she takes another swig and clears her throat, readying herself to admit the beautiful truth.
"He kissed me," she confesses. "And said a lot of really wonderful things afterward too."
"About damn time!" Stella yells before wincing and waving an apologetic hand at the table next to them. "Sorry. Big things are happening here. Got excited."
"Took you both long enough," Foster says as she hugs Sylvie tightly. "But I am so fucking happy for you, Brett."
"Speaking of…," Stella says with a waggle of her eyebrows. "Kelly was at my place after shift today. Did the two of you take advantage of that big empty loft apartment?"
"No," Sylvie replies with wide scandalized eyes.
"What? Why the hell not?" Stella asks.
"I still have a hurt rib, you guys. I'm not cleared for strenuous activity. Besides, we-we haven't even been on a date yet," Sylvie informs them with a shake of her head.
"Oh please," Foster says with a scoff. "Where there's a will, there's sure to be a sexual position. Get on top and have your way with him already, girl!"
"Oh. My God," Sylive says with a near hysterical embarrassed laugh. "Can we not talk about this right now? Casey already overheard one conversation I would have rather him not have heard and I really don't want that happening again."
Stella grins, chuckles, and then furrows her brow at Sylvie. "Wait, does that mean what I think it means? He overheard us yesterday? In the locker room?"
Sylvie nods and Foster laughs victoriously.
"Sneaky," she replies. "I underestimated him."
"He didn't overhear it on purpose," Sylvie assures her. "But I guess it was good that he did. I'm not sure I would have told him I was worried he was still caught up in Gabby if he hadn't."
"Oh my god," Kidd says as she grabs Sylvie's hand in a crushing grip. "Did he actually say with words that he's over Gabby?"
"He did," Sylvie says with a barely contained relieved smile.
"See? I told you!" Stella exclaims. "He worked it all out."
"Ancient history," Emily adds, repeating her words from earlier.
"I still find it all a little hard to believe," Brett admits. "I mean I remember his words and I definitely remember his kisses, but part of me is still afraid it'll turn out to be a dream or something. Every other relationship I've tried has gone bust, you know? What's to stop something from ruining this one too?"
"Those other relationships went bust because for some reason or another they weren't right," Stella assures her. "The love wasn't there or the timing wasn't right. You wanted one thing and they all wanted something else. I don't think that's going to happen with Casey. I know both of you pretty well and I can tell you...you want all the same things. I mean, take it one day at a time, Sylvie, but I think this time will be different."
"Don't overthink it," Foster adds with a kind smile. "Enjoy it. Keep doing exactly what you've been doing." She pauses and then grins wickedly. "Only with orgasms this time."
Sylvie nearly chokes on her beer but manages a startled laugh once she's finished swallowing. "Thanks for the advice, ladies." She gives Foster a halfhearted scolding glare. "I'll take it to heart."
"See that you do," Emiliy replies as the corners of her lips barely turn upward. "After all you've been through you deserve to get laid. Like a lot."
Sylvie puts an arm around Emily's shoulders and smiles gratefully at her. "Aw, Foster, thank you. That's...sweet? I guess?"
Despite how hard they work to embarrass her sometimes, she really does have the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Everyone needs someone to look out for them and push them to grow, and there's no crew better at that than Firehouse 51.
