Chapter 22

Severide opened the door to his apartment and went inside without waiting for Stella.

"No one meant to keep anything from you," Stella finally said, breaking the silence that had lasted since they left the firehouse.

Severide didn't say anything, going to the kitchen and opening the fridge, but not seeing anything that was there.

Stella followed him. "You've seen how shy Sarah is. She wanted to keep it to herself."

"Herself and you and Hermann," Severide said through gritted teeth.

Stella grabbed the fridge door from him and slammed it shut. "And Brett and Foster and Cruz," she added. She folded her arms and narrowed her eyes. "And you know what? The way you acted, seeing her with Gallo has me thinking she was right to not tell you."

"He got her pregnant as soon as they met," Severide almost yelled. "And he's been sneaking around with her, he was pawing her in the garage, he's reckless and impulsive—"

"And Sarah likes him," Stella interrupted.

Severide opened his mouth to argue, but Stella put her hands on his shoulders. "Kelly, you have to just bite your tongue and be ok with Sarah and Gallo or you're going to ruin any relationship you've managed to start with her." She gave his shoulders a squeeze and her mouth quirked in the start of a smile. "And now you're officially a real dad."

Severide looked at her in question.

"You can't stand your daughter's boyfriend." She pressed a kiss to his lips and moved closer.

Severide heaved out a sigh and pulled Stella into his arms.

"But tomorrow you're going to fix things with Sarah. And Gallo," she said, resting her head against his chest.

Severide didn't argue, but he didn't say anything to agree either. He would do whatever it took to fix things with Sarah, but he couldn't promise to make an effort with Gallo.

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Blake wished Sarah would say something.

"I'm so sorry, Blake."

Besides that. He had lost count of how many times she had apologized since they had left 51.

"You didn't do anything wrong," he said. "None of this is your fault."

This time, though, the tears started to fall.

"Hey," he said, "come here."

She pulled away, shaking her head. His CFD sweatshirt swamped her small frame and hid the start of a bump that was starting to show. His sweatpants were rolled up at the ankles and her bare toes peeked out. She stepped back again, bumping into the door of his room. She opened it and hurried down the hallway.

Blake knew better than to reach for her from behind. He got in front of her and held up his hands. "Just talk to me," he said.

Sarah shook her head, the tears falling more quickly. Her fine hair escaped the braid she had put it in earlier. "There's nothing to say," she said brokenly.

"Sarah," he tried again, reaching out to her. She stepped back and shook her head again.

"Don't, just don't…this is all my fault. Kelly's angry and he hurt you and it's all my fault." She wiped at the tears as they fell.

Behind her, Blake's roommate came out, concern darkening his face when he saw Sarah crying. He looked to Blake. Blake shook his head and his roommate nodded with another look at Sarah, before going back to his room.

The only light in the living room came from the streetlights coming through the window and it made the tears streaking Sarah's cheeks glisten.

"None of this is your fault," Blake said firmly.

"Kelly hurt you," Sarah said. She finally reached for him and felt the back of his head, where he had hit it against the wall earlier.

Blake reached up and laced his fingers through hers, pulling her hand away. He kissed her hand. "He thought was protecting you." He used his free hand to wipe away her tears.

"He shouldn't have," she said. "Just like you shouldn't be protecting me from Leo. Everyone around me is getting hurt and fighting and…" she was crying too hard to go on.

Blake pulled her to him and she finally didn't resist. "Everyone around you cares about you," he said. "Kelly would never hurt you," he said, getting to what he knew was her real fear. "We're all trying to protect you. Kelly, me…we're trying to help you."

He stroked her back, brushed her hair away from her face, held her close until her sobs slowed to nothing more than shaky breaths.

"Ok?" he asked her.

She nodded against his chest.

He kissed the top of her head, closing his eyes and wishing he could fix everything that was crushing Sarah. His forced out a steady voice. "Come on, you need some sleep."

Sarah let him keep his arm around her. He didn't let go.

#

Sarah stayed as close as she could to Blake as they went down the hallway to Kelly's apartment. The morning outside was cool and she still had on his sweatshirt. As they approached the door, she stopped, her feet stuck to the floor.

Blake looked down at her, his brow creasing with worry.

"I can't," she said. "I can't face Kelly. Not after how I lied to him and got you hurt and made him so angry…" Her hands were shaking as hard as her voice.

Blake lowered his head so he was eye level with her. "Yes you can," he said. "You can do this. No one is angry with you. I know how much having Kelly in your life has meant to you. I don't want you to lose that."

Sarah took a breath, but it was hard to breath. Her lungs felt tight with fear.

"I'm going to stay right with you," Blake assured her.

She finally managed to nod and take a step.

They made it to the door and Sarah tried the door. It was locked. She hadn't had her keys with her yesterday, so she glanced at Blake. At his encouraging nod, she tentatively tapped on the door.

It swung open quickly enough that she could tell Stella had been waiting for her.

Stella's face was lined with worry, though her clear relief at seeing Sarah tempered it. She wrapped Sarah in a tight hug.

"I'm glad you came home," she whispered fiercely in Sarah's ear.

A lump lodged in Sarah's throat and she squeezed Stella tighter.

Stella finally let her go. "Hey Gallo," she greeted Blake.

Sarah stayed close to Blake's side as Stella ushered him in. Stella closed the door behind them and Sarah looked over toward the kitchen and saw Kelly standing there.

She froze and Blake bumped into her back. Sarah pressed back as close to him as she could. Blake put a supportive hand on her lower back.

Kelly didn't say anything, just looked from her to Blake. Sarah saw his jaw tighten briefly before he glanced at Stella. He stepped toward Blake, hand outstretched.

"Gallo," he said.

Blake reached around Sarah and shook Kelly's hand. "Hi Severide."

"About yesterday," Kelly started.

Blake shook his head. "You were looking out for your daughter. I would have done the same thing."

Kelly nodded his appreciation, then stepped back.

"Sarah," he started.

Sarah flinched back as soon as his attention turned to her. Blake's hand was warm on her back.

"I'm sorry," Kelly said. His voice was low and he cleared his throat. "I didn't know you and Gallo…" he cleared his throat again. "I didn't want to scare you."

Sarah pressed her lips together. She thought of what Blake had said last night, that Kelly would never hurt her, he was trying to protect her.

"I should have told you about Blake," she said, but Kelly was already shaking his head.

"You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to. I—you—this whole thing is new for both of us. I wasn't there for you and I'm trying to make up for that. Badly," he added.

Sarah tried for a tentative smile. "You're not doing any worse at this than I am," she said.

Kelly finally gave a short laugh. "Well, maybe you get that from me. Your mom was great with people. She put them at ease and listened to them. I'm…not like her."

Sarah thought of all the neighbors they had had over for dinner through the years. Her mom always had enough to share, even when times were tough. It was her warmth that made their apartment a home more than any décor or furniture.

"I, uh, I found some old picture of her last night," Kelly said, gesturing toward a stack of photos on the kitchen table. "If you want to see them." He looked like he was holding his breath.

Sarah hesitated, but nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."

She made her way to the table, skirting around the far side from Kelly and sitting across from him.

"Gallo, you want to help me with something outside?" Stella asked.

Sarah looked at Blake and he raised his eyebrows in question. Sarah bit her lip, looked to Kelly who was sliding a photo towards her, and back to Blake. She nodded slightly.

Blake followed Stella out of the apartment and Sarah twisted her hands in her lap, looking across the table at her dad.

Kelly met her eyes briefly before looking down at the photos again. "This, uh, this was your mom and me at prom," he said.

Sarah reached over for the picture and didn't yank her hand back when her fingers accidentally bumped his.

"We spiked the punch," Kelly said, a smile starting. "It was your mom's idea and she had no idea what she was doing. They ended up calling the paramedics when the home ec teacher passed out."

Sarah felt her own smile grow at the idea of her mom as a carefree teenager with Kelly.

"What's this picture?" she asked, her hands getting steadier and muscles relaxing as she listened to Kelly tell her.

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