Title: Chasing the Future
Chapter 5 – A Change of Heart?
"Hey Erin! Welcome to the party, have you met our new Squad Lieutenant? Kelly Severide?"
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He had nowhere to run. The world around the two of them continued to turn at a slower pace as they both remained in place; Erin's heart racing at top speed and Kelly mind racing as he hoped Joe's mother would understand him being later than promised to pick up his son.
"You have to go?" Erin asked as Kelly's brow furrowed and he looked up at Matt with a strained expression.
"Come in when you're ready," Matt nodded as he ducked back inside to join his wife and friends.
"I…" he lightly stammered as his cheeks started to warm. He glanced up and caught Voight's wondering gaze and his heart started to race even faster – this time with a bit more panic than pleasure. "I don't want to."
"Just tell me…are you um…married?"
"What? Married no…not married," Kelly replied in haste as Erin's agitation slightly settled. "I just…I'm waiting for a call for an apartment and the guy is only available after work but…but I can hang here a bit." He knew he was taking a chance in getting to know a cop, but his mind and heart were at war and he was just too tired to fight either.
"I don't want you to feel pressured to stay."
"No…I want to. Just…all this is a bit…overwhelming," Kelly frowned as they stepped into Molly's and instantly drew inquiring looks from those at Precinct 21.
"They're harmless," Erin replied as she turned and narrowed her gaze at her team and then looked at Voight for a few seconds with a pleading expression.
"So I take it…you're not married either?"
"No."
"Huh."
"Huh?" Erin echoed as Kelly offered her a small smirk.
"Just surprising is all. Better stop now before I dig my grave," he chuckled as they took a small, tall table by the door. "Sorry if I have seemed…skittish over the past few days. New town. A bit out of sorts…just trying to settle into a new area. But enough about me…so how come everyone here knows everyone else?"
"You want the 25 cent version of the One Chicago family tree?"
"One Chicago?"
"That's what Molly's is. Brings the various areas of first responders together under one roof to just…be friends and family. A group that just…gets each other. Okay so…Gabby Casey, her brother Antonio is married to Sylvie Brett. Trudy McHolland is married to Mouch who is best friends with…" she started. "Jay Halstead is married to Hailey who is partners with Kim Ruzek who is married to Adam and he's on my squad. Jay's brother Will, who is married to Natalie are both doctors at Med and they are friends with…"
Kelly's brain raced to keep up with all the names and faces and how they all interconnected with each other and by the time she was done, he knew he had stepped into a nest of people that were a lot more involved with each other's lives than he had expected and wanted. And that also made him nervous.
I can't ask her about kids…that's a real turn off at first but…but what if she doesn't like them?
"So…what was your old firehouse like?"
"Small. A bit disjointed. And then it was closed," Kelly replied with a small frown as his phone started to buzz. He had purchased a pay as you go phone to use since his real phone was still disconnected due to wanting to keep his location secure – for now. I have to go…
Erin noticed his jaw tighten as she heard the soft buzzing and knew something wasn't right. But if I push him…he might not want to get to know me enough to confide in me that something is wrong. I need him to open up and tell me what's going on…
"I just don't like to talk about that. I lost my job and…and it's just a bit of a sore topic," he answered with a small smile as her brow slightly furrowed. "Erin…"
"Are you in trouble?"
"Why do you ask?" Kelly asked in haste; a clip in his tone.
"I'm a cop Kelly…I can read the signs."
"Right…so that's what this was about? I'm the new guy and just moved here so…" Kelly's tone clipped as his lips pursed.
"No, it's not…"
"I really gotta go meet that guy."
He hesitated for a second, as his mind warred within about telling her the truth and trying to keep as many people out of his own personal mess as possible.
"Kelly…wait," Erin stated as she hurried after him and both emerged onto the sidewalk, in the cool night air outside of Molly's.
Kelly held in place a few seconds before he turned to face her with a pained expression.
"I only want to help because…"
"You're a cop."
"Because I'm attracted to you!" She blurted out and then looked at him with a wide-eyed expression. "Okay…that's not exactly…" she stammered as he slowly neared her. "I'm sorry…I just…" she huffed as he put his hand on her shoulder; the heat between them instantly intensifying.
Without saying a word, his hand moved from her shoulder to her cheek and within a few seconds, he planted a brief, but intense kiss on her lips before he pulled back and shook his head.
"I uh…shouldn't have done that," he said in haste as she stared at him with lips slightly agape. Before either of them could say another word, he turned on his heel, spied a cab coming and darted toward it; hopped into the backseat and disappeared around the corner.
"Yes…you should have…" she whispered as she stood fixed in place staring down the street to where the cab had disappeared. It wasn't until Voight's voice pulled her back from her heated stupor, that she came back to reality.
"What happened?"
"We uh….he uh…" she frowned as she turned and looked at the end of the street and then back at her boss and the man she thought of as her father.
"Where's Kelly? He's the guest of honor."
"He had to go…meet a man about an apartment…" she said with a frown as she looked at him with pursed lips.
"What is it? Something about him you don't trust?" Voight asked in concern.
"He's in trouble and I want to help."
"How do you know this? Erin…what's going on?"
She looked at him with a heavy sigh before they slowly headed back into Molly's and she told him everything that happened so far; including how she had been and was still smitten with the handsome, elusive firefighter.
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Kelly hurried toward the shelter, cursing himself as he went. "Stupid…stupid move!" He berated himself as he pulled the door open and rushed toward the front desk, his eyes frantically looking around for Joe.
"Kelly? What are…"
"Hey man…so sorry I'm late."
"Late? Aren't they having a party in your name at Molly's?"
"Yeah but…how did you know?"
"Told you…Wallace Boden is a friend. You coulda stayed longer."
"I'm just not used to…such kindness," Kelly answered with a heavy sigh as Joe nodded his head.
"You'll get used to it. Those people at Molly's they're family ad they're stronger than you think. You can trust them."
"Not used to that either. Did George give your mom any trouble?"
"Nope. He's sleeping now. He's a good boy. You done good so far."
"Nice to hear. Thanks," Kelly smiled as he followed Joe into the backroom and smiled at his son asleep on the small bed. "Hey buddy," he whispered as he scooped his precious son up into his grasp and let him curl up in his grasp. "Thanks again."
"Look Kelly…you can stay here as long as you need, okay?"
"I don't want to mess with your policy."
"You're looking for your own place right?"
"Yeah…when I can."
"Stay here until you find that place. I mean it."
"Appreciate it. But…but no one at 51 knows about this. I just…I need to do this on my own. No charity."
"Your business to tell…not mine."
"Thanks," Kelly smiled as he carried his sleeping son back to his room and then placed him on the small bed and tucked him in. He kissed the top his head and then eased himself down beside him. But instead of falling asleep, and despite the urging of his tired body, his mind was wide awake.
She wants to help…you need to trust someone here and they will have resources. But on the flip side he knew that, if his father was involved in something illegal, they would force that to come out and it could also implicate him and impact his son. George…Erin doesn't know about him…she might not even want kids and you just kissed her! What were you thinking?
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"So...Kelly…he's the guy you've been looking for right?"
"Surprise," Erin replied weakly to her partner as they headed for their next lead location.
"At least you know where to find him," Jay continued.
"Yup."
"Okay so…did you go back to his place last night and just don't want to talk about it?"
"No…I put my foot in my mouth," she groaned as Jay's brow furrowed. "I told him I thought he was in trouble."
"You did? Why?"
"Because…I don't know. Are we close?"
"Erin…"
"I know he's in trouble and I want to help but…I don't want to just start snooping without his…"
"Blessing?"
"Here we are!"
Jay just shook his head as the two of them got out of the dark police-issue SUV and slowly headed toward the front door.
"Pssst!" Jay hissed as he nodded toward the front door and quickly drew his gun; Erin doing the same. "Johnson! Chicago PD! Coming in!"
Jay kicked in the door and the two of them rushed in; backup on the way.
Erin pulled away and headed toward the back, while Jay checked the first small room. "Bathroom clear!"
"First room clear!"
"Bedroom clear!"
Erin headed toward the kitchen and heard a small shuffle and then stopped, her gun trained and ready. "CPD! Come out with your hands up!" She demanded, which instantly pulled her partner back in her direction.
But just as she entered the kitchen, a firm body slammed into hers, which caused her to lose her footing and both of them tumble toward the dilapidated back door and crash through it just as Jay arrived at the entrance to the kitchen and gasp in horror.
"Erin!"
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"Sorry I ducked out early last night," Kelly told Matt as they stood in the large truck area of Firehouse 51. "Seemed like a great place."
"Maybe…a bit overwhelming meeting everyone all at once?" Matt guessed as Kelly gently snickered. "My wife's perception."
"Women are good at that," Kelly agreed. "So how long…" Kelly started just as the overhead paging system started to sound, urging all of them toward the call of action.
"I'll fill in all the gossip later," Matt chuckled as he slapped Kelly on the back.
"Alright Squad…let's go!" Kelly shouted as he hurried toward his boots and pulled them on. It had only been a few days but already the men he now worked side by side with, had started to make him think that he could actually stay here and build a real home.
On the way to the fire, his mind kept thinking back to how he left things with Erin and knew that since 51 and 21 worked closely together, he would see her again and would have to make things right between them sooner, rather than later.
"Hate these small house fires," Kelly huffed as he and Matt did a quick survey of the area before them.
"Alright, listen up!" Boden's voice boomed as started to give the teams some directions. As soon as they were given their orders, all the teams sprang into action.
"Cruz! Newhouse! Check the basement!" Kelly directed as he led the charge into the small fiery structure. "Fire Department! Call out!" Kelly shouted as he rounded a corner and then stopped short. "What the…" he gasped as a man rushed toward him that looked just like his father. "Sir!" He called out as his vision cleared and the man's real face came into view. "Head for the back door! Casey one coming toward you!"
"Got him! Watch the roof! Structure is unstable!"
"Copy that! Cruz…we gotta open that back door!"
"On it!"
Just as he neared Casey, he heard one of the beams starting to crack and quickly pushed both of them out of the way before the area around them started to collapse.
"51! Evacuate! Now!" Boden's voice boomed over their radio's.
"Everyone out now!" Casey shouted as he hurried toward the door and burst outside into the afternoon fresh air; the few remaining from 51 in tow.
"Everyone okay?" Boden asked as both truck and squad confirm their teams were all accounted for, and without injury. "Home owner has just confirmed that his tenant has been accounted for so we'll help Engine put out the roof fire."
Kelly tugged off his gloves as he headed toward truck 3 and couldn't help but overhear Gabriela Casey talking to her brother.
"What…happened to Erin? Sorry I couldn't help but overhear…she's at Med?"
"She's okay. Just took a bit of a tumble with a suspect in a case. Antonio said she's okay."
"Thanks," he nodded as he tried to remain nonchalant. But inside he couldn't wait until they were back so he could make a side detour to Med to see if she was okay. And that's what he did.
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"Thanks…yeah next time I won't use my head…literally," she groaned as April finished applying the small bandage and then said she'd be right back with her discharge forms.
Erin hopped off the table and reached for her jacket when she heard shuffling and turned around to see Kelly standing in the doorway; still wearing his gear but wearing an expression of worry and panic.
He looked at the small cut on her cheek and forehead and instantly his anger surged and his fists balled. Her appearance was slightly disheveled but the expression on her face was one of worry and concern – for him!
"Are you okay?" Kelly asked in haste as she nodded affirmatively and took a few steps closer.
"What's going on? Why are you here?" She asked in wonder.
"I need your help. I'm in trouble."
A/N: of course things won't be easy for our couple but Kelly needs to take that chance right? But…will he tell her everything? And what will Erin find when she starts looking? Please do review before you go and thanks so much! Reviews really help show a bit of appreciation for my time to write something you (especially you lurkers) like to read. Keeps me from fully retiring!
