Gina: Thank you for your kind words. I'm so happy you liked the last chapter or chapters by the looks of it ;-)

And Kiki, thank you so much for believing that my story is among the better ones. Wow, that's very kind of you. Thanks. I feel very flattered.

The new chapter is somewhat for Severide whump fans really, but I hope the Casey fans out there don't mind giving him a bit of the attention.

So. Off it goes ...

Chapter XLVII

"How bad is it?"

"He's in the ICU but stable," Boden finally told him without hesitation.

Severide looked just as shocked as expected. His eyes darted between Stella and Boden before he even could find the control to say anything at all.

"What? ... How... the ICU. Why?" Kelly took a deep breath to settle his nerves. The lieutenant had been aware of the fact that something must have happened to his friend, but hearing that it was something so severe he had to be admitted to the ICU was not something he was expecting at all.

He rubbed his face with shaky fingers before he let his hand rest at the back of his head. "So, it's serious then. Is he, ... I mean, what's ... ." His look was lost when he turned to Stella, "how could you keep that from me?"

Kidd immediately felt guilty and wanted to tell him how sorry she was when Boden cut her off, "it was my order. I told everyone to wait until I could come here and see you. To tell you in person. It was my decision, not Kidd's or anyone other from your team. So, if you want to be mad at anyone? That would be me then!"

Severide's gaze darkened, and you could feel his lack of understanding and his displeasure regarding the Chief's confession. He was trying hard to think about what to say, but his mind was a mess, and the freshly sprouting concern for Casey had an almost paralyzing effect on him.

Boden took this opportunity and told him, "and before you go off on me for doing so, I'll tell you this: I'm sorry about what happened, but I'm not sorry for how I handled it. You were in no condition to get such news. And to be honest, I don't think you are either now."

Kelly inhaled sharp to let Boden know he wanted to talk now, but the chief wasn't having that. He had already heard a reproach from one of his officers today. Only to then see how said officer passed out. So, Boden stopped Severide before he could say the first word.

"You wanna know how Casey is doing? You're going to listen!"

Severide didn't say a word, but he was clearly having a hard time staying calm.

"As I said, Casey is in the ICU. He inhaled a lot of smoke, and it was critical for a moment. But now he's stable. I went to see him just minutes ago. I have to admit, it's a scary sight, but he's being taken good care of by the nurses and doctors."

Boden finished his report on the situation for the time being. He watched his squad lieutenant's face and tried to get a hold of the other one's emotion. Kelly was confused and anxious, and Boden could tell he had many questions, which needed to be answered by him. He could also feel that Kelly needed time to process it all. To be fair, even he, despite the fact he had seen Casey, had not come to the point of accepting this day's turn of events. They all needed time.

Severide cleared his throat and once more took a deep breath before he considered what the chief has told him so far. "Uhm, okay." The shock was still there, but relief began to take over somehow, "so he's alive?"

"He is," Boden told him. "And the doctors say, Matt has a good chance. He's sedated and intubated at the moment. So, he's not in any pain if you're worried about that."

"Good, that's good," whispered Kelly. He tried to stay positive and not let his fear of losing another brother overwhelm him.

"They're watching him closely. And Dr. Halstead is confident that they can wake him up soon." Boden tried to deliver as much positive information as possible.

"What the hell happened?" Severide's question remained unanswered for a moment.

Kidd took his hand and tried to soothe him and let the news sink in before Boden would tell the whole story. She could feel his hand shaking a bit, and he looked directly at her, expecting her to answer. But she didn't have anything to offer, "I wasn't there. I don't know." Kelly's confused look and his stiff body language let her squeeze his hand even harder, and she wanted to know, "did you hear the Chief? Casey is stable. That's good."

"I've heard him," Kelly grumbled. Now, Severide's harsher side and demanding attitude came to the surface. "What I didn't hear is how the fuck he ended up in the ICU, in the first place!" Severide's voice grew louder, and his heart rate climbed. For a second, the monitor he was attached to made an alarming sound. Immediately all three firefighters glanced at the screen. Kelly huffed in annoyance. 'Fucking perfect,' he thought to himself.

"Calm down, Kelly! It's not gonna help Casey if you get yourself worked up," Stella hushed him. She squeezed his hand some more. All she wanted to do was hug him and never let go. But she knew he needed time to process and that he couldn't appreciate her physical consolation for now.

"I am calm," mumbled Severide, and he released their handshake.

"Clearly, this monitor shows us otherwise. Sorry, babe. Kind of cool, though. Like a lying detector." Stella smirked as she tried to lighten up the mood.

"Yeah, well, I guess I don't need this shit anyhow," Kelly said, pissed off, as he untied the cables from his chest in one swift motion. Stella reached for his hand and scolded him, "Wow, Kelly. I don't think you're supposed to ….," but she couldn't end the sentence, as once again a shrieking sound erupted, but this time it didn't stop. Boden lunged forward and wanted to stop Severide from doing what he knew he was trying to do. He felt bad for him. He knew what the other was going thru. Of course, Severide wanted to see Casey, but Boden needed him here. Safe. He himself had found it hard to bear the sight of Casey. If he could, he wanted to spare Kelly that. He tried to say something when a nurse came bursting thru the curtains. "Hey, you," she addressed Kelly, "Are you okay," she asked, a bit worried? But when she saw him without his ECG cables, she asked a bit sour, "What do you think you're doing?" She pressed a button on the touchscreen, and the sound stopped. "This," and she took the three cables and showed them to Severide, "they have to go there." She applied them back on the electrodes on his torso and warned him, "I can do this all day! So, please feel free to snatch them away again. I'd love to touch this chest again," she told him with a fake smile on her lips. Kelly rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you can roll your eyes all you want, mister, but that's what's gonna happen. You snatch it. I'll attach it. Simple as that." Her voice sounded upbeat, but Kelly could see she was getting just as annoyed.

He grumbled, "okay. All good. I get it."

"I'll hope so," she warned. Then she took a better look at him and asked, "You sure you're all right?"

Kelly smiled at her and said, "all good." He wanted her to leave them alone so that he could talk about Casey. She nodded at him and told him, "if you need anything, use the call button. It's just as effective."

"Sorry, nurse," Stella said, "he'll do." When she left, Kidd looked surprised at Severide, "what a bitch" she uttered in a hushed tone.

But Kelly couldn't appreciate Stella's casual cheekiness either. He was angry and worried. And he still didn't know what had happened.

"I'm sure she's just stressed," Boden tried to defend the harsh acting nurse somehow.

"I'm still waiting for an explanation," Severide stated. He looked at his chief with a simmering challenge, who finally took heart and began to tell how it all went down at the scene, minus some details about Casey's state and the miserable sight of him at the lobby before he crashed. But he also tried to give him an idea of what to expect if he would go to the ICU and visit his friend. And Boden didn't have to wait long for Severide's plan.

"I want to see him," the injured firefighter sat up in his bed and swung his legs to the side.

"Hey wow," Stella cried out silently, "What the hell, Kelly? What do you think you're doing," she asked, clearly worried? But Kelly ignored her attempt to stop him. He pushed her hands away and tried to stand tall. One of the cables came loose, and Kidd wanted to attach it back before the nurse would make an appearance. But she was too slow, and the brunette showed up with an even more pissed attitude than before. Boden stood in front of her and apologized, "So, sorry. He just wants to stretch his legs. We've got this. You don't have to come back here. We'll call if we need something."

The nurse gave Severide a once-over and addressed him, "you're on bed-rest. Which means you get to lie in bed." Then she turned to Boden and looked at his jacket, "you're obviously the one in charge here, Chief." She stretched his title a bit too long for his liking, but he sure as hell wasn't going to get into a fight with that nurse now, so he just gave her a strong nod. She looked at him and asked, "You're tough enough to keep him where he's supposed to be?" Another nod from a now slightly angrier-looking chief. "Fine by me," she said. "I've got enough patients already to attend to." And with a huff, she turned around and walked away.

Stella had to stifle a laugh at that encounter. She couldn't wait to tell the others about that. Their chief, getting challenged by this elderly nurse, was priceless.

Severide, on the other hand, couldn't appreciate it as much as Stella did. However, he was thankful towards Boden for keeping his cool and calm. But he definitely wouldn't admit it even if he had to. He also wouldn't give in on his mission to get out of this bed and this ward.

His feet were wobbly, and he did his best to steady them. For a split second, he stopped his movements and sat back down again as his legs threatened to give out under him. Boden was immediately in front of him. Kelly closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head slightly. To clear his vision, he rubbed at his eyes. After a few seconds, he attempted to stand up once more, but Kidd and Boden both pushed him gently down. "Stop it!" The chief put his hands on the other man's shoulders and ordered, "you'll stay put!"

"The hell I am," Kelly yelled and tried to shift under Boden's hold. "I'm going to see Casey."

"No, you won't! You barely can stand on your own." Boden hardened his grip and tried to get Kelly to stay. "There's no need for you to see him now. Kelly, he's sedated anyway. He won't know you're there." It sounded almost rude, and Boden knew it was a low blow. A big sigh followed his statement. He felt awful about what Severide was going through and his own role in it.

"Really, Chief," Kelly asked angrily? "That's all I get? After you put me in charge for the last couple of weeks to look after him? To be your personal Casey-sitter!" His voice sounded hurt and desperate. "You got some nerve! You have no idea what I've been thru." His voice was full of frustration. "And now you're keeping me away? That's BS, and you know it!"

"Severide, hey, look at me," Boden urged him, "I know it's hard, but you have to take care of yourself first. You're hurt too. And Casey needs you in good shape."

Kelly looked up, and the battalion chief saw his eyes fill with tears that were threatened to fall.

"Kelly, you can't do anything for him right now. Casey does well so far. As soon as he's awake, I'll let you know. And I promise you, then you can see him." Boden looked him straight in the eyes when he told him, "Hell, I'll even take you to him myself. I promise!"

Kidd stroked Kelly's back. "Chief's right. You can't do anything now. No one except the chief was allowed to see him."

Severide didn't calm this down in any way, "You said he's stable. So why is nobody allowed to see him?" Boden thought he heard a quiet sob between the sentences.

"He is. You have to believe us," Wallace sat down again after Severide made no new attempt to get up. He sighed, "Come on, you know the hospital rules. They're strict. And have a purpose."

"No, they're not," Severide replied, pouting. Then a thought crossed his mind, "If I ask Will, he'll let me see him." Boden was surprised. Severide looked at him, "You said he was Matt's attending doctor."

"Yes, one of several," Kidd agreed.

"Let me talk to Dr. Halstead," Kelly begged his boss. "He'll allow it. I'm sure."

Boden frowned at that and again was met with a strange feeling regarding this doctor's role in all of this.

"Okay, okay," he finally gave in. "I guess we could try and ask about his opinion."

Kelly's gaze and posture relaxed for the first time.

"But if he thinks you belong in bed, don't even try to argue again. Do we agree?" It sounded like a question, but the chief's voice indicated no room for argument.

"Absolutely, Chief," Kelly smiled. He knew Halsted wouldn't let him down.

Will lowered his penlight and asked, "no double or blurry vision? No nausea?"

"I told you, I'm fine," Kelly said with persistence.

"And if you weren't, you wouldn't say so," Will sighed as he finished his quick neurological exam. "So, I guess I'll have to take you by your word."

Severide didn't respond and just shrugged.

"Okay, then," informed him, Will, "but you're not going alone, and you're sitting in a wheelchair."

"Done," Kelly said eagerly as he began to sit up and skid over to the edge of the bed. His movements were sluggish, and his face got paler the minute he was upright.

Will looked at his patient and sighed once more, "man, I don't know if this is a good idea. You're awfully pale." He touched his forehead, "and your skin is damp and cold. I don't like this."

"Will, just shut up and let me go see him." There was certain despair in his voice, and Halstead understood Severide's persistence. Nonetheless, he worried that it would be too much for him.

"I wish I could say something to stop you," he told Kelly.

The other looked up at him and faked something like a smirk, "not gonna happen. Just bring me that damn wheelchair!"

"Okay, Kelly, but mark my words: You're gonna regret that. It's too early for you to be up instead of lying down."

"If you're not gonna roll me to Casey in that bed, then it's gonna be so," Severide stated, and he grumbled, "this isn't my first concussion. I know how it goes."

Will held his hands up and let him know, "okay, sure. You're the expert."

Severide sighed at that and stated, "so, I'm gonna be sick. Big deal. The nurse can give me something for it, right?"

Will nodded, "Yeah, there's medication, but you'll feel terrible nonetheless."

"Just give me something and let's get this over with," Kelly sighed and rubbed his hand against his neck. He already could feel the burning sensation in his throat and the throbbing in the back of his skull.

Will shook his head as he steadied his friend by putting his hand on his shoulder, "I'm just trying to warn you."

Kelly pulled away from Will's touch and asked, "where's that damn wheelchair?"

"Should be here any minute." Halstead had been thinking ahead and ordered Kidd to get one from downstairs.

The doctor watched Kelly trying to fight the already emerging nausea. He made a quick note to himself to let the night-nurse know, to up Severide's antiemetics.

Then he casually said, "You know Casey won't even know you're there. He's sedated. "

Kelly sighed. He was sick of everyone telling him that Matthew wouldn't notice his presence.

"You can't know that for sure. Nobody knows what he's aware of," Kelly mumbled.

"Severide, he's sedated, not in a coma. It's a difference."

"Yeah, well, whatever. I don't care. I need to see him." Kelly took a deep breath, "I can't believe this is happening." He shook his head but regretted it instantly. A sharp pain caused him to hiss and to close his eyes for a moment.

"I know, you're worried. But Casey's doing fine." Will tried to calm him.

"He's sedated in the ICU. He's anything but fine," was all Severide had to add.

"Okay. Sure. You're right," Will sighed. "All I'm trying to do is make you realize that it's looking good right now. He is stable and even on the mend."

"That's great, Will. But I have to see it for myself. No offense, but I've been told a lot of things today. Turns out some of it was just a load of crap."

Will realized that Kelly couldn't be convinced otherwise unless he was able to see Casey for himself. "I can relate to that, but I think you're overreacting. Your guys were just trying to spare you the troubles they went through when Casey's life was on the brink."

Kelly frowned at him and huffed in disgust, "seriously?"

"And being this angry doesn't do you nor Casey any good. It will just increase that headache of yours, which is probably already skyrocketing since getting up."

Severide grumbled, annoyed, "can't hide anything from you, can I?"

"Sorry, I'm a doctor," Will smirked when he saw Kidd arrive with the wheelchair. "Looks like your ride is here."

"Finally," Severide sighed.

Will pushed Severide down the hall in his wheelchair. Stella strode alongside them and could feel Kelly's nervousness. She put a hand on his shoulder and hoped he wouldn't push her away again. She knew that he was mad at her for not telling him the truth right away. But she would do it all over again if it meant he could have his peace just a little bit longer. After his accident, these few hours of sleep did make a difference to his recovery, and she would trade his well-being for a bit of hostility towards her in a heartbeat. Nevertheless, she felt a sting of hurt when he pushed her hand away. Stella was disappointed that he couldn't see how her actions only reflected her deep concern about him. But then again, Casey was his best friend, and they practically lived together for the last couple of days. And what Stella had noticed was that Kelly had been showing more concern and caution about the captain lately than in the past few years combined. So, it was kind of a natural reaction of him, now as Casey was actually hurt and in a bad position.

"So, here we are," Will finally said when they got to the entrance of the ICU. He put the brakes on the wheelchair and stood in front of Severide. "So, do you remember what Boden told you?"

"Yeah, I know," snorted Kelly. "It looks worse than it is, and I shouldn't let the sight of it scare me." He repeated monotonously what everyone had told him before.

"Good," Halstead nodded. "Should Stella or I come in with you?"

"Neither," Severide hissed, "I'm going alone. You can wait out here."

"Not an option, sorry, buddy." Halstead was persistent this time. Kelly had manipulated him to the point of bringing him here, but leaving him alone now was absolutely out of question for Will. "Stella or me? Make your choice."

Kelly looked down, almost ashamed, as he said Will's name. Stella was disappointed, but she didn't let it show. She knelt in front of him and looked him in the eye. "I hope it helps." He gave her a small smile before his gaze became serious again. Stella leaned forward and kissed his forehead and whispered to him, "He's strong. Don't forget that." She looked at Will and told him, "I'm gonna get some coffee. I'll be back in a few minutes. Waiting here."

Will nodded at her and mouthed, "I got this," then he patted Severide's shoulders and asked, "Okay, you ready, lieutenant?"

Severide was annoyed by all of it and said, "You know, I'm not a child."

Will loosened the breaks on the wheelchair and said, "Yeah, I know."

Then he rolled him thru the entrance of the ICU.

And Kelly had to admit; he felt as scared as a lost child at the supermarket.