Kelly and Shelby walked into the kitchen. "You take a seat I'll cook."

Shelby took a seat at the island. "Kelly are you sure that is a good idea? I remember the last time you cooked you almost burnt the apartment down."

"Hey now. That was ages ago. I've improved on my cooking skills."

Shelby put up her hands in defense. "Alright babe." Shelby just kind of stopped. "I'm sorry that just slipped out."

"Hey don't apologize it's fine. " Kelly just gave her a smile and started making breakfast.

After they both ate they each grabbed a cup of coffee and took a seat in the living room. They sat on opposite sides of couch facing each other.

"So what else is there you need to tell me?"

Shelby sighed and took a sip of her coffee. "After I left and got to L.A. I met this guy. His name was Ian. I was an absolute reck after everything. We found comfort in each other. But we were so toxic for one another..."

Flashback

Shelby was walking out of her anatomy class when she ran into someone. "Omg I'm so sorry." Shelby looked up to met a good looking guy with the deepest chocolate brown eyes.

"Hey it's alright. I should of watched where I was going." He just grinned at her. Shelby kind of blushed. "Your cute when you blush."

"Uh thanks." She didn't know how to respond she hadn't flirted with anyone in years.

"My names Ian. Your's?"

"Shelby."

"Well Shelby I don't know what your doing tonight but I'm having a house party if you want to come?"

"Sure sounds fun."

"Give me your phone I'll put my number in." Shelby handed him her phone and he put his number in. He then sent himself a text. "I'll text you the address."

"Sounds good." They went their separate ways. Ian texted her the address a bit later.

After her classes were over she headed back to her apartment. She started going through her closet trying to figure out what she wanted to wear. She pulled out a pair of skinny jeans, ankle boots, and a strapless red top. She got dress and headed to Ian's

She knocked on the door and Ian answered. "Hey Shelby. Glad you could make it. Come on in." He stepped to the side to allow her in. "Can I get you a beer?"

"Sure." Shelby followed Ian through the crowd of people to the kitchen to grab a beer. Little did she know that one beer would change her life yet again.

It was about 3am. The party had died down and there was only about 5 people left. They were all drinking and just sitting around talking.

"Alright guys I've got a little something to finish off this night." Ian held up a prescription pill bottle.

"What did you score this time Ian?" A boy asked that Shelby didn't really know.

"Some hydrocodone." Ian started passing out the pills to everyone. He gave two to Shelby and she just stared at them.

Her phone was going off. She picked it up and saw it was Kelly still trying to call her even though she had been gone for 2 weeks. She ignored the call and took the pills washing it down with the beer.

End Flashback

Kelly was just lost. He was listening to her story but couldn't believe it. The Shelby he knew hated drugs.

"Kelly?"

"Uh yeah sorry. I'm listening."

"So things went on like that for 6 months I was addicted. I was missing classes, had failing grades and I just didn't care. I felt nothing. No pain. I was numb to everything. And then everything changed after one night"

Flashback

It was a normal Saturday night. Ian was having another house party. The drinks and drugs were flowing. Shelby lost count on the number of drinks she had and the number of pills she had taken.

"Ian I'm gonna go lay down." Shelby could barely stand up straight.

"Alright babe." He gave her a kiss and then she went up to crash in his bed. Which was pretty much hers. She didn't stay at her apartment at all. She took off her shirt and pants and just fell on the bed falling asleep.

The next afternoon when she woke up Ian was laying next to her. She rolled over giving him a kiss. Something felt off. When her eyes focused she noticed his eyes were wide open.

"Ian?" she gave him a little shake. "Ian babe wake up!!! Please don't leave me!!" But it was to late. He suffered an overdose.

End Flashback

"...he was just laying there motionless. I couldn't wake him. He was already gone. I called for help but it was already too late." Shelby was crying by this point.

Kelly was just so shocked. He just stared at her not knowing what to say.

"After Ian died I checked myself into rehab. My parents made it all go away so I wouldn't be kicked out of school. I haven't done any drugs since that night. And I hadn't drank anything until everything with Justin happened and then reconnecting with you as well." Shelby just kind of looked at Kelly. Waiting for him to say something.

"So me being back in your life caused you to drink again?"

"No. The stress of knowing what I did to you caused me to drink again. I felt like I didn't deserve your forgiveness."

Kelly opened his arms to invite her to come over. Shelby crawled over and laid on top of Kelly. Kelly just wrapped her in a hug trying to be careful of her arm. "You do deserve forgiveness. You were lied to and manipulated into believing I cheated on you."

Shelby just bursted into tears. All the stress and anxiety of holding all that in for years finally hit her. And she felt free. Like it was all behind her finally.

"Now since you were honest with me. I should be honest with you." Shelby just looked up at Kelly. "I too had a painkiller problem. I injured my neck and got hooked on painkillers. Shay and Gabby helped me kick it and I got surgery on my neck."

"I'm glad someone was there to help you." Shelby just breathed in Kelly feeling at home. "I feel like this is where I'm suppose to be. I love you Kelly."

"I love you too Shelby."

They just laid on the couch watching TV. Neither of them wanting to move. The Shelby's doorbell started ringing.

Shelby got to answer the door. "Mom. Dad. What are you doing here?"

"Oh dear aren't you going to invite us in?"

"Uhhh."

Her mom and dad just pushed pass her and walked in. Her dad Saw Kelly sitting on the couch. "Oh lovely. Your here."

"Dad don't. You are in my house and Kelly can be here." Shelby walked over and took a seat next to Kelly. "Now why are you here?"

"We came to discuss you moving to Florida with us."

"You don't give up do you?" Shelby was furious. She thought her parents got the hint at the hospital. " I am not moving to Florida. You guys can cut me off if you want. I am done being stuck under your thumb."

"You have no one here in Chicago. Since Justin has gone missing or ran away from you..."

"Alright that's enough!" Kelly was getting upset. " She has me. She had Casey. She has everyone at 51. We all have her back and love her! And as for Justin. You two couldn't give two shits less what he was doing to your daughter! You were just happy that he would help you guys keep up appearances."

"No look her Severide. Justin was the best damn thing that happened to my daughter. And now look since being back here she's already gone crawling back to you!"

"We'll Sir if you would bother to listen! You would know Justin beat her and raped her! She is not going to Florida where you two can control her again!" Kelly was putting his foot down this time. He was not letting her parents walk all over her.

"Shelby can we talk to your without Kelly around?"

"Oh hell no. You two are just going to bully her again. And convince her to leave somehow. I'm not going anywhere."

Shelby couldn't help but smile. "Whatever you have to say can be said with Kelly here. He is speaking the truth. And I am not going to Florida.I am staying here with people who actually care about me. Cut me off I don't care. I have my own career and money. I don't need yours"

"Oh well you sure as hell needed it when we convinced you to finally file for divorce!"

"I was in college! Away from everyone I knew and you two had me convinced that Kelly had moved on! So don't even throw that in my face!" Shelby walked over to her front door and opened it. "You two can leave now. And never come back."

Shelby's parents just left without another word. She then slammed the door. "I can't believe them!" She went and took a seat next to Kelly. "How can they be so heartless?"

"I don't know Bee. But you've got me, Casey, and all of 51 to be your family. "

"Thank you Kelly." Shelby just put her head on Kelly's shoulder. "I only signed the divorce papers because it was just after I got out of rehab and I was so broke. I wanted to run back here. Back to you because I realized how much I tucked up. But my parents convinced me you were happy and wouldn't buy me a plane ticket to come home."

"It's all going to be alright Bee." Kelly just hugged her and held her close.

8 weeks later

Things had been going pretty good for Shelby and Kelly. They hadn't put a label on what they were. Neither of them pushing for one. They were just enjoying each other's company. Shelby made a promise to Kelly and Casey that if she felt the need to drink she was to call them.

Shelby felt like she had her life back. The one she threw away.

It was Shelby's first day back at the firehouse and she couldn't wait to get back to work. She was walking up the driveway to the firehouse 51.

"There she is!" Hermann shouted and came over and gave her a hug. Everyone else came over to give her a hug and welcome her back.

Last was Kelly and he just had this big grin on his face and pulled her in for a hug. "I'm so glad your back."

"Even though you just saw me last night?" Shelby just smirked at Kelly.

They walked into the rec room with Kelly's arm on her shoulder. Boden was in the kitchen getting some breakfast. "Chief look whose back."

Boden turned around and gave Shelby a smile. "It's nice to have you back. "

"I'm happy to be back Chief." They each nodded and Boden went to his office.

"I've got some paperwork to do. So I'll see you later?"

"Sounds good Bee." Kelly just smiled at her as she left towards her office.

Casey walked up and put a hand on Kelly's shoulder. "So are you two back together yet?"

Kelly just turned his head to look at Casey. "Not officially. I don't want to push her."

"Maybe she's waiting for you to make the first move?"

"Casey do you know something that I don't know?"

Casey just held up his hands and backed away. "I don't know what you're talking about." Casey gave Kelly a grin and walked away.

Kelly went out to sit at the squad table. He was just sitting there going over what Casey had said. "Fuck it." Kelly got up to head to Shelby's office but then the loud alarm went off.

Truck 81, Engine 51, Squad 3, ambulance 61,Battalion 25 Structure fire.

Everyone jumped and ran to the trucks and headed out. Once they got on scene there was just a bit of smoke coming out of the 3rd floor window.

The firefighters jumped into action heading inside. It was an older building.

"Severide report?"

"Chief we've got someone. Can you send in Dawson and Shay? Patient is going to need to be on a backboard to get them out."

Boden gave the girls a nod. They both ran into action.

"Casey Report?" Something came over the radio but it was in audible. "Casey? Severide?" Then a big blast came knocking Shelby and Chief Boden to the ground.

They both quickly stood up. Shelby was staring at the building.

"Severide? Casey? Report!" nothing. "Truck 81? Squad 3 report!" still nothing. "Mayday mayday. Structure collapsed firefighters inside. Need Assistance!"

Shelby had never seen Chief Boden act this way. She saw the fear on his face. Something was not right.