A/N: Thanks for all the positive feedback, love reading your reviews and your thoughts and opinions! Warning: you're in for another cliffhanger... but this is a huge turning point in the story!
Sylvie sat at the kitchen island, staring at the ultrasound picture. Should she just go for it? Drop the bomb? Or should she lead up to it with something special?
"Hey Matt, how was your day? By the way, you're an expectant father," she said out loud to the empty room. No, that seemed so abrupt. A little cold. Maybe she should talk more about her emotions.
"Hey Matt, these past few months together have been so special... no that's dumb." She sighed in frustration. What even were they? She had never used the term boyfriend to describe him to anyone. Hell, the firehouse was still clueless about their relationship, all except Severide, Kidd and Foster. But what if this was just a friends with benefits thing? She knew Matt would love and care for this baby, his reputation was nothing if not honorable. But what about her? He didn't owe her anything. She had been the one who had suggested at one point they just be friends with benefits. What if that was all it was for him?
The hours ticked away as she waited for him to return. Maybe she should text him? It was getting close to dinner when he came bustling through the door.
"Hey, sorry that took longer then expected, I ended up stopping at another job and time got away from me," he hurried back to his room calling over his shoulder, "I told Severide we'd try to meet them at Molly's tonight, he says he needs some socialization." Casey was in his room calling out to her about his day, and she slipped the ultrasound pictures into the back of a kitchen drawer. She'd tell him later.
They arrived at Molly's, Casey's arm was slipped around her waist as they walked to the door, but he stepped away when they entered, putting appropriate distance between 'just friends.' If only he knew how far past friends they were.
Stella was behind the bar working, flirting with Kelly who sat at the counter. He was happy to be out of the house, many people in the bar were checking up on him and wishing him well.
"Hey guys!" Stella greeted them. She gave Sylvie a raised eyebrow and pointed 'did you tell him' look, and Sylvie shook her head ever so slightly. Casey greeted Severide, clapping him on the back.
"Hey man, let me buy you a drink," he said, holding cash out to Stella.
"No no no. He is not drinking while on medication," Stella ordered.
"I haven't taken any meds since breakfast," Kelly argued.
But Stella snatched the money out of Casey's hand and said, "you can buy me a drink for having to put up with this guy," she said, but her tone was light hearted. Stella poured shots for herself and Casey, slinging it back with a triumphant smile on her face.
Brett rolled her eyes and looked at Casey and Severide, whose mouths were agape, a look of disgust on their faces.
"C'mon guys, she deserves at least one drink!"
"But... Stella, do you think that's a good idea!?" Kelly looked ready to fall apart.
Confusion crossed over her face. "It was one drink. I know I'm working, but Hermann doesn't care if we have a drink here and there. Then we get more tips."
"But Stella, you should be taking better care of yourself," Kelly objected.
"Guys, it's not a big deal..." Sylvie began.
Casey put a hand on Kelly's shoulder. "Maybe you should stay sober tonight, Kidd. You know you have somebody else to think of." He was hoping she'd think of her baby when he said that, everyone else would think he was talking about Kelly.
"Are you serious? I never get drunk when I'm working. It was one shot, chill."
The atmosphere was getting tense, so Sylvie jumped in.
"Can I get a mojito?" She said, trying to change the subject. When Stella looked over at her questioningly, she mouthed, 'virgin.' So it was basically a soda. Stella walked away and made her drink, returning and handing it to her with a wink.
Sylvie sipped her drink, the conversation had shifted to filling Severide in on some of their most recent calls. Casey was being so protective of Stella just because she was dealing with some stress in her life. Wait till he found out her secret.
When they finally walked back in their apartment door that evening, Sylvie was trying to build up her courage. But she had barely put her things down before he swept her up into his arms.
"I missed you today," he whispered, smiling sweetly at her. "How was your day?"
"Um, pretty uneventful." She was purposely vague.
"Well, I can promise you, I wished I'd been here instead." His lips brushed hers lightly, his hands running down her back. Sylvie leaned into him, relishing his closeness. Maybe just one more night of pure bliss before she dropped the ball. What was one more day?
She pulled up on the hem of his shirt, helping him slip it off, running her hands along his bare chest that was becoming so familiar. She took his hand, leading him back to the bedroom, determined to spend one more uncomplicated night with him. Laying down on the bed, she kissed him hard and passionately, wondering if it'd be the last time for them.
Later that night, she lay awake next to him in bed. His breathing was steady as he slept, but Sylvie was wide awake, running her hand over her still flat belly. She couldn't keep that a secret forever for sure. He'd notice her belly growing. Tears started to fall down her face as she wondered if he'd be mad she hadn't told him first. She regretted that. Now there would be a distrust between them, and she feared it'd be a rift in their relationship. She wiped at her eyes and sighed, wishing she'd done so many things differently.
Casey stirred beside her, his arm tightening around her waist. He turned his face to her, smiling, but his smile quickly turned to concern when he saw she was crying.
"What's wrong?" He asked, stroking her arm gently.
"Nothing," she sniffed, "I'm just really happy."
He beamed at her, "me too."
Her brain was screaming 'TELL HIM NOW' but she just kissed his lips. He could tell there was something else going on, but he didn't know if it was his place to push her. So he just held her, rubbing her back until she fell asleep.
At the firehouse the next day, Stella was hounding her about telling Casey.
"You need to tell him so he gets off MY back," she whispered fiercely. They were huddled together at a table in the break room.
"Hun, you know he's going to support you. Maybe be a little shocked, but he's a great guy," Emily said. "What are you so afraid of?"
Sylvie shrugged, "I guess I'm just worried this will change things. Make our relationship more complicated. I don't know, it's just so good right now. I don't want the focus to go from growing our relationship to everything being about this baby."
"You can have both," Stella argued, as Sylvie glanced across the room to Casey. Could she?
Casey looked over to where the women were close together whispering about something. Probably Stella's pregnancy. When was she going to tell Boden? She shouldn't be in the field in her condition. But he knew Stella was stubborn, she was unlikely to listen to his reason. Maybe he should talk to Sylvie, see if she'd sit down with Stella.
Sylvie was walking to the bunk room when Casey called out from his office, "Brett, you got a minute?" She joined him and he shut the door behind her. He smiled warmly at her, "First of all, you look beautiful as always."
She blushed, rolling her eyes at him. "What do you want!?" She asked playfully. He glanced out into the hallway through the glass in the door to make sure no one could see them, then quickly drew her to him, kissing her. "Second there's that," he smiled, their foreheads were together, their noses touching.
"And third?" She asked.
"Third. Right." He straighten up, motioning for her to sit. "I think you need to sit down and have a talk with Stella."
Sylvie frowned, "why?"
"Well, you know... Her condition. She shouldn't be working herself so hard."
She rolled her eyes, "this again? Matt, she's fine. If you should be worried about anybody's mental health, you should check up on Kelly."
"What?" What was she talking about?
The alarm went off, and he cursed the timing. Oh well, maybe they could talk about it tonight when they got home.
The call was for a vehicle accident, A tractor trailer had t-boned an SUV, flipping it upside down. The family of four inside the car were trapped, and it took the jaws to finally pry them out of the wreckage. The parents in the front were in the worst shape, the two children in the back had been largely protected by their car seats. Gallo unclipped the little boy, who clung to him fearfully, while Casey got a baby girl out of the other side who was screaming the whole time he was trying to free her.
Casey shushed the baby, gently patting her as he walked over to Sylvie at the ambulance. She was frozen in place, watching him with the child, thinking of their baby.
"Sylvie?"
"Oh! What?"
He gave her an odd look. "I just said, the baby and child don't appear to have any injuries. Ambo 99 just got here, do you want to take the kids or the parents?"
"The baby." She blurted out, her eyes not leaving the poor child, who was still sniffling. Casey handed her to Sylvie, and she cradled the baby, her heart melted as the little girl gripped her finger, sending a wave of emotion through her. The baby was around 6 months old, and she smiled at Sylvie, who started talking to her, "You're okay, kiddo, everything will be alright." She didn't know who needed to hear that more, her or the baby.
Casey watched the exchange, his heart feeling full. Someday, Brett would be a great mom. Maybe even with him. The thought made his heart swell more, and he walked away, thinking about how Sylvie would probably be a great help to Stella in a few months. Speaking of Stella, he looked around to see where she was. She was about to help carry the mother over to the Ambo on a back board, but Casey jogged over, nudging her out of the way. "I got it," he said, lifting the board. He could feel the daggers from Stella's eyes piercing his back, but he ignored it.
When they finally got back to the firehouse, their shift was all but over, so they cleaned their gear and showered, heading home. It was starting to rain, and the air was cool and damp.
"I am STARVING," Sylvie groaned, following him in the door, shivering from the rain that had absorbed into her clothes.
"I'll make some homemade soup," he said with a smile, and she went to change into more comfortable clothes. She was excited to have a night in with him. Maybe with this dinner she could give a nice, romantic speech about how much she appreciated him and finally tell him. Explain that they could continue dating and get to know each other. She had to stress that they're relationship was still growing, and she wanted to make that a priority. He'd understand.
Returning to the living room she said, "you know, with our day off tomorrow we should stop at Med and check on that family."
He didn't respond. She walked into the kitchen to see him standing at the counter, the drawer below him was wide open and his face was white as a sheet, staring at something in his hands.
The ultrasound pictures.
