A/N: Hey y'all, sorry for the delay in updating. Crazy times the world is in now! Amidst this I'm also moving so I've been busy lately. I'll try to update more frequently to get you through quarantine! Stay safe and stay healthy!
Sylvie stood in front of Chief Boden's office door. With a sigh, she knocked lightly, hearing him say loudly "come in" she entered, her stomach in knots.
"Brett? What can I do for you?"
She took a deep breath, "do you mind if we sit? I feel like I should sit." Sylvie felt a little dizzy, the combination of morning sickness and what she had to do was making her light headed.
Concerned, Wallace Boden motioned to a chair, sitting beside her. "Are you alright?" He could see something was weighing heavily on his paramedic's mind, and he wanted to do his best to help in any way he could. His firefighters and paramedics were his family, he felt responsible for them and cared deeply about their lives. He had a soft spot for the women on his team, all of them almost felt like daughters, and he knew being a woman in this field wasn't easy.
"Chief, I have to tell you something. It might change my status here but I've made up my mind that it's a sacrifice I have to make and I'm hoping we can figure something out that I can continue at 51 in some capacity."
Confusion crossed over his face. "Are you hurt? Sick?" Maybe she was dealing with chronic illness?
"Only in the morning," she said with a small, unsure smile.
"Ah, I see," Boden responded knowingly.
"Yeah... I'm not really sure what I'm going to do," Sylvie said quietly.
"We'll figure it out, together. This firehouse is a family, Sylvie. We can all help you, and this little blessing," he said, smiling kindly at her. "I'll get together an alternate schedule for you in the upcoming weeks. Do you have a note from your doctor by any chance?"
Sylvie pulled it out of her bag, "Lifting restrictions at 20 weeks. But until then they said I can still do my job, just have to take certain precautions."
"Like stepping down as paramedic in charge," Boden pointed out, taking the note he said, " I'll pass this on to HR."
Sylvie smiled sadly, "I think Foster is completely capable of being PIC."
Boden nodded. "How far along are you now?"
"Nine weeks."
"You should really be on desk duty..."
"Please, Chief. Can I stick it out a bit longer? My doctor said it shouldn't be a problem, as long as I stick with the Ambo. Which we usually do, anyway."
Boden thought for a second. "I'll review it with Captain Casey, see what his view is."
Sylvie nodded. "Thanks for the consideration, Chief." She stood, heading for the door.
"Brett? Can I ask how you got into this situation?"
"Um... it was just a mistake. You know," she shrugged. Something was stopping her from telling him the whole story. She wasn't ready for her life with Casey to be known. Part of her liked her privacy, and she didn't want to be the headline of the firehouse gossip column. Not yet, anyway. "Can we keep it between us for a while?"
"Well I'd like to discuss it with Captain Casey. Probably Severide and Herrmann as Lieutenants."
"Kidd and Foster know," she said sheepishly.
He nodded, "we'll try to keep it to that group, for now."
"Thanks, Chief."
Sylvie walked out the door and Boden called after her, "Brett?"
Peaking her head back in the door, he stated, "Ginger snaps."
"What?" She looked at him oddly.
"Ginger snaps. Donna used to eat them to help with morning sickness. Something about the ginger."
Sylvie laughed, "Ill keep that in mind, thanks Chief." She headed towards the break room, but was suddenly tugged into the supply closet, Stella gripping her arm, Emily waiting anxiously.
"Geez, Kidd. You should just label this room your office," Sylvie grumbled, "why can't we talk at the table or something like normal people?"
"Do you really want everyone to hear what we have to discuss?" Stella pointed out, Foster nodding in agreement.
"What do we have to discuss?"
"You were in Chief's office for a while! Spill! Did you tell him?"
"Yeah. And Casey knows. He found the ultrasound pictures."
"What?! Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Emily demanded.
"It was yesterday, guys I'm still trying to figure this all out."
"Was he excited?"
Sylvie shrugged, "I think so. But he's already being over protective. I'm not sure I like him all the sudden wanting to make all MY decisions."
"Cmon, you know when Casey sets his mind to something he's determined," Stella pointed out.
Sylvie sighed, "I'm just not ready for things to change so fast. I don't want to be treated differently. I'm still me."
"You're growing a human, Brett. That's pretty significant."
"Yeah. But I'm still me. And I don't like too much attention. I want people to focus on their jobs, not worrying about me."
Stella held up her hands in surrender. "Okay, boss. I should tell you though, I had to tell Kelly. He found the pregnancy test and thought it was me," Stella laughed, "you should've seen how white his face got." The girls giggled as Stella told them the story.
"Let's just say he was relieved when I told him he's not gonna be a daddy for a long time," Stella laughed. Turning to Brett she asked, "What did Boden say about Casey?"
Sylvie looked at the floor, biting her lip. "I didn't tell him it was Casey's..."
Meanwhile, Chief Boden had called Casey into his office.
"Need to update you on some personnel changes. Apparently our paramedic in charge is pregnant."
Casey was silent. Why was Boden acting like Matt didn't know? Wallace mistook Casey's silence for surprise and continued, "I know, it's a shock. Brett said it was a mistake, must've been a one night stand or something."
More silence from Casey, this time actual shock. Sylvie has left out part of the story. A big part. Why? He thought things were good with them. They had a lot to figure out, but they were going to do it together. At least that was his plan.
"So," Boden continued, "I'd like your input. Let Sylvie stick it out on 61 until her doctor's note takes affect at 20 weeks, or put her on desk duty now?"
"Well, I think we should respect what she wants, Chief. But we've got to put her safety first. I'd like to say desk duty but I don't think that'll sit well with her."
Boden nodded. "She suggested light duty. In an emergency situation, Foster goes in. Sylvie stays with the Ambo."
"Yeah, I think it could work. But not after 20 weeks. Then she goes to a desk."
"Agreed. I'll talk to Foster, make sure she's okay with the changes. Brett said she told her and Kidd. We'll count on them to keep an extra eye out. I want you to fill in the Lieutenants too, make sure all team leaders are aware of the situation."
Casey nodded in agreement. "Will do, Chief."
Casey turned to go, but before he was out the door Boden asked, "Do you know who the guy is?"
Casey turned. This was his opportunity to be honest. But for some reason, Sylvie had held back the truth, and Casey needed to figure out why before he spilled the beans.
"I'm not sure, Chief," he lied.
"Well, I'm glad you two are roommates, you can keep an extra eye on her."
Casey nodded, unable to meet Boden's gaze. "I'll speak to the Lieutenants."
Boden thanked him and Casey left, headed for Severide's quarters.
Entering his friend's office, Casey closed the door behind him. Kelly glanced up, and Casey jumped into his story. "It's not you who's gonna be a dad, it's me, and Sylvie just told Boden but left the whole me being the father thing out and Boden says I'm supposed to tell you so this is me, telling you. Why the hell did she leave that part out?"
Severide's eyes were wide, "Wow. That was a lot of information."
Casey sighed, raking his hand through his hair. "How did this get so screwed up?"
"Man, it'll work out. You just gotta be patient."
"Why doesn't she want Boden to know about me? Do you think she's ashamed?"
Severide shrugged, "I don't know. But you should probably talk to her."
"Ya think?" Casey scoffed. "I'm headed to fill Hermann in."
"On the whole truth?" Severide asked.
"I guess not," Matt responded quietly, leaving the room.
Sylvie was in the break room a little while later, when Hermann entered. Seeing her he walked over, patting her gently on the back he said, "We're here for ya, Brett."
She smiled weakly, "Thanks Hermann," and he walked over to the kitchen.
Turning to the girls she pointed at Hermann. "That. That is what I don't want."
"He cares, Sylvie. We all do," Foster insisted.
Brett was quiet. She was so confused. And embarrassed. This wasn't anything like she planned her life going. But now that she had this baby, she didn't know what she wanted. And she was afraid of having to do it alone. What if the pressures of outing their relationship to the public strained it? What if Casey didn't want what she did? And what if he did?
The alarm went off, and Sylvie jumped up, for once relieved to have a call. Something else to focus her thoughts on.
