Cindy, Kiwiflea, Duchess, Winter kiss- you guys are the absolute best to write for! And BTTWYA, thanks so much for sharing what you want to see, I love getting some fresh ideas to add into what I have planned (and sometimes to take the place of what I had planned, ha!).

Chapter 20

Sarah followed Kelly and Stella toward the crowd gathered in the park. Kelly paused and looked back at her. She felt her shoulders tighten at the awkwardness that lingered between them after their argument about Gallo yesterday.

Kelly looked as uncomfortable as she felt. "I'm, uh," he stopped to clear his throat. "I'm glad you came."

Sarah felt some of the tension ease out of her. "Me too," she said with a tentative smile.

Kelly looked like he wanted to say more, but he just turned back to head towards the crowd.

"Hey! Sarah!" Sylvie called, waving them over.

Sarah parted ways with Kelly and Stella, relief at the distance relaxing her smile.

Hermann nodded a greeting. The blonde woman next to him lit up when she heard Sarah's name. Hermann nodded toward her. "This is my wife, Cindy."

Cindy's warm smile was contagious. "It's so nice to meet you," she said. She caught Sarah off guard with a quick hug. "Christopher has told me what a help you've been at Molly's."

Sarah glanced at Hermann. "It's been a great place to work."

"And Christopher also said you and Gallo are expecting?" Cindy continued.

Hermann let out a hum of disapproval and motioned for Cindy to stop. She missed it, her kind eyes looking at Sarah.

"He's such a nice young man. When are you due? I probably have some of our old baby things in the garage I can find for you."

Hermann stepped between his wife and Sarah and murmured stiffly. "Not everyone knows about Gallo," he said between his teeth. "Like Severide."

Cindy's eyes widened and her mouth formed a perfect 'o'. Looking back to Sarah she cringed. "I'm sorry. My lips are sealed. But let me know if you need any baby things." Turning back to Hermann, she gave him a swat across the chest. "I can't believe you didn't tell me it was a secret." Sarah could hear Cindy lecturing Hermann as they walked away. "What were you thinking, Christopher?"

Sylvie handed Sarah a bottle of water. "Do you want to go see the competitions? They'll be starting soon."

Dark hair caught Sarah's eye. Blake came up alongside her. "I like your shirt," he said under his breath.

The gray t-shirt with 'Truck 81' in navy lettering had come from his closet. Sarah blushed. When Severide had seen her come out of her room this morning in the t-shirt, he had thanked Stella for giving it to Sarah and Stella hadn't corrected him, though she had given Sarah a look saying she knew exactly where it had come from.

Sarah faced Blake and linked her fingers with his briefly, before stepping back. "I should go find Kelly. I think Stella said he's in the push-up contest."

Blake's eyes twinkled. "I'm his competition. I'll walk with you."

Sarah hadn't told him what Kelly had said about him last night. And she hadn't told him today was the day she was telling Kelly that Blake was her boyfriend. She wanted one last day of ignorant bliss before things got really awkward. And really complicated. She let her hand brush against his as they went to find the competition.

"Hey Lieutenant," Blake called, jogging into the grassy area where Kelly stood with Casey, Kidd, and Cruz. "Is Squad ready to admit defeat?"

Casey clapped a hand on Gallo's shoulder and said something that made him laugh. Sarah saw Kelly cut a look toward her and his jaw tightened.

Cruz was looking between Sarah, Gallo, and Kelly and looked like he wanted to be anywhere else. Sarah tried to silently beg him not to say anything. Just for one last day.

Boden stepped in the middle of the firefighters. Groups of men and a few women from other firehouses stepped forward as the chief called out the rules of the competition in a booming voice.

At the first whistle, everyone went down into plank position.

Sarah caught herself before she called out encouragement to Blake when everyone around her started cheering.

Another whistle and the contest was on. Blake, Kelly, and Kidd all effortlessly hammered out push ups. Sylvie came up next to Sarah and let out a cheer. Sarah couldn't help it. She joined in, cheering for everyone who had become her family in such a short time.

Other engine companies, truck crews, entire firehouses, dropped out before 51 lost their first man. Or woman. With a groan, Stella dropped down and, arms shaking, couldn't push herself back up.

Sarah clapped along with the crowd when Stella sat up and dusted off her hands, a good-natured smile on her face.

Cruz was the next to drop, followed by another firehouse, then finally Casey.

It was just Severide and Gallo left.

Sarah's smile started to dim when she saw the sweat dripping from their faces. Stella had come to join her and Sylvie, and Sarah could tell when they saw the grim determination of both men that said this was more than a friendly face-off. Stella stopped cheering and exchanged a look with Sylvie. Foster approached. "This isn't going to end well."

The entire crowd was cheering wildly, counting out loud to number the push ups, but Sarah, Stella, Sylvie, and Foster watched silently.

Both men had slowed considerably, but were still going through the required motions. Kelly reached the top of a push up and moved his head enough to see Blake. Then his mouth set in a hard line and he kept going.

Sarah could see Blake giving it everything he had. His breath came out on a harsh puff with every move. His arms were trembling. He glanced at Kelly, firmed his jaw and redoubled his efforts.

Kelly was grunting from the strain.

Blake went down for one more push up… He slid his eyes toward Kelly, then to the crowd and met Sarah's.

Sarah wasn't smiling. She looked from Kelly to Blake and pressed her lips together. She could feel the clear discord between the two men trying to prove themselves and it made her gut twist with anxiety.

A groan went through the crowd when Blake lowered himself down to the grass, followed by applause as Boden declared Kelly the winner.

Blake rolled over on his back. He gave Sarah a quick wink before standing and holding out a hand to Kelly.

"Nice job, Lieutenant."

Kelly looked at the offered hand before taking it without comment, then turned to find Stella and Sarah.

Sarah let all her breath out all once. She lost sight of Blake, but saw his roommates bounding toward him.

Sarah congratulated Kelly shyly, stepping back as the rest of 51 came forward to slap his back. She looked for Blake, but he was lost in the crowd. She turned her attention back to Kelly and Stella.

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"How does she even know them?" Kelly muttered.

Stella followed his gaze to a picnic table across the park. Sarah sat with Gallo and his roommates. She laughed at something one of them said.

"I think it's nice she has some friends," Stella said.

Kelly frowned and tossed his burger down on his plate. "I don't know anything about them except they're friends with Gallo. Not a great recommendation."

Stella narrowed her eyes at him. "You never had a problem with Gallo before. Just because you think he's interested in Sarah, suddenly he and all his friends are bad influences? It's nice for her to be around people her own age. Not just her dad." She raised an eyebrow at him, willing him to think rationally.

"He's impulsive. He's a daredevil. He doesn't think. He's clearly flirting with someone who has a boyfriend already. Do any of those sound like qualities Sarah should be around?"

Stella grimaced. Maybe she shouldn't have stopped Sarah from telling Kelly the whole truth yesterday.

Kelly was looking back toward the table, but it was empty. "Where'd they go?" he asked. "We should get Sarah and head home."
Stella took a sip of her drink, stalling. "Kelly, let it go."

Kelly was already on his feet, striding through the park. "Cruz!" he yelled.

Cruz turned and blanched at the sight of the angry Squad Lieutenant coming toward him. He lifted his chin and waited for Severide to approach.

"Did you see Gallo? Or Sarah?"

Cruz started to nod, then changed it to a negative head shake. He glanced at his fiancée and she gave him a questioning look. He shifted uncomfortably.

"Well?" Kelly demanded.

Stella had jogged to catch up to him. She shot Cruz an apologetic look. "They were going to return the relay race supplies to 51," she said. "Sarah said she'd get a ride home from Gallo."

Kelly's jaw worked before he spun on his heel and headed toward the parking lot.

Stella closed her eyes and asked for patience, before she jogged after him. "Kelly," she tried again.

He didn't answer, just opened the door and waited for Stella to decide to get in.

The engine of his muscle car roared as he gunned the engine out of the parking lot.

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