Title: Chasing the Future
Chapter 8 – A Strained Reunion


She could only watch in horror as Kelly jumped out of the cab and rushed into the burning building; not waiting for his team to arrive with backup or protective gear.

"JOEEEE!" Kelly called out as he tried to shield his face from the shearing heat as he pushed further into the burning building. "GEORGEEEE!" He yelled in a panic as Firehouse 51 geared up to go in. "WHERE ARE YOU!"

"Kelly's in there! Without gear!"

"What?" Matt asked Erin in shock as he turned to Boden who instantly ordered half the team inside and the other half to start to battle the blaze from the top and outside.

"This…this can't be…" Erin stated in a quiet panic as her frantic eyes turned and fixated themselves on the burning building before her. "Kelly…"

"SEVERIDE!" Matt shouted as he directed his team toward the shouting before them.

Erin turned to see a marked CPD police car come to a screeching halt and Trudy McHolland come rushing toward her. "Trudy? What are you doing here?"

"I know this building. Joe and his family live here. Are they okay?"

"We don't know. Kelly went rushing inside without gear. Ah damn him…" she lightly cursed as Trudy's lips pursed.

"Is George okay?"

"Who's George?" Erin asked as Trudy's eyes slightly widened. "What's going on? Trudy…tell me."

"Not my story to tell," Trudy said in haste as one of the uniformed officers rushed up to her to ask about traffic control.

Erin watched Trudy hurry away and then turned to look back at the building. "Kelly…you just better make it out alive!"

"SEVERIDE!" Matt shouted once more as he finally reached an area where Kelly was trying to clear away debris. "WE'VE GOT THIS!"

"JOE! GEORGE!" Kelly shouted as his lungs started to falter.

"Cruz! Get Severide outside!" Matt directed as Kelly jerked his arm free and pressed on.

"I need to get in there! GEORGE!" Kelly shouted as the smoke started to hinder his actions even further.

"You'll be dead before you get to them if you keep this up!" Matt shouted as Kelly tried to pull himself out of Cruz and Mouch's grasp.

"Have…to keep going…" he started to cough as the smoke started to intensify its attack and he finally sunk into darkness.

"Get him out NOW!" Matt commanded as he motioned for Herrmann to advance now that Kelly was out of the way.

"Bring him here!" Gabby directed as Erin watched in horror as Cruz and Mouch came out with an unmoving Kelly between them.

"Kelly!" Erin shouted as she raced toward the waiting stretcher where Gabby and Sylvie started to frantically revive him. Her eyes welled as she stared down at his soot stained face and willed him to open his eyes and look up at her.

"He better…be okay," Erin stated as Gabby stated they had a pulse.

"We need to get him to Med now!"

"I'm coming too!"

"Go, we'll finish up here," Voight told her as Kelly's unconscious frame was loaded into the ambulance and Gabby sped off toward Med; the other ambulance waiting for anyone else coming out who would need help.

"What's going on?" Jay asked Voight as they waited for the fire to be put out and the rest of the people inside to be brought out.

"Don't know. But we need to find out what's so important in there that he'd risk his life over."

Matt finally pulled the rest of the debris out of the way and opened the door to see Joe, his two kids, his mother and George all inside; a bit dazed from the smoke but otherwise unharmed as of yet.

"Get them out!" Matt directed as he took the small boy from the older woman and hurried outside with him in his arms. Since he was white and the other four were black, he had to ask who his parents were.

"Casey, what's going on?"

"Think he might have been in there care," Matt stated as he sat George down on one of the waiting stretchers; Voight and Boden hovering a few feet away. "Hey there…I'm Matt. Do you know where your parents are?"

"Want my daddy."

"Was your daddy inside with you?"

"No. Where is he?"

"What's his name?"

"Kelly."

"Kelly…Severide?" Matt dared to ask as Voight's jaw instantly slackened and he and Boden traded shock glances. He quickly looked around and saw Joe by the other ambulance with his family.

"I'll get him," Voight volunteered as Matt let the medic check out the young boy.

He looked up at Boden in wonder. "Did you know sir?"

"I did not," Boden replied in truth. "He must have a damn good reason for not telling us about this boy."

"Is Kelly okay? Where is he? I called him to tell him about the fire," Joe stated in haste as Matt's brow furrowed. "Chief Boden?"

"Sir. Matt Casey. I work with Kelly Severide. I need you to tell me who this boy is?" Matt interjected.

"He didn't tell you?" Joe asked in surprise as he looked down at George who looked up in fright and then instantly shot out his arms and grabbed onto Joe. Joe hoisted him in his arms as Matt took off his heavy jacket and put it around the trembling boy; Trudy rushing up to them.

"Is George okay?"

"You know who he is?" Voight asked Trudy who instantly displayed an impish expression; Mouch walking up to them.

"Yes."

"Does Erin know?" Voight asked a bit gruffly.

"Not my secret to tell," she stated firmly. "Is he okay?"

"A bit of smoke inhalation but he's unharmed," the medic confirmed.

"I need to take him to Kelly," Joe stated in haste. "He trusts me. You gotta let me go to Med."

"I'll take him," Voight said as he looked at Trudy with a tight lipped expression.

"Go," Boden directed as he looked at Matt. "You too. Kelly will want to hear from you that the rest are okay. Joe, your family will be safe and will meet you at Med."

"We're…homeless now…all of us," he lamented as he turned, with George in his grasp and looked at the now charred and water sogged building. Joe turned back to Boden with a heavy frown.

"We'll take care of this Joe, just go take the boy to Med. I'll come by later."

"Trudy, what's going on?" Mouch asked his wife in wonder.

"I'll tell you later. Can you let me know when it's safe to go in there?"

"You want to go in there?" Mouch asked in shock.

"Randy, honey…it's all they have."

"Okay, I'll check. Hold on."

Trudy watched the other ambulance take it's leave and can only hope that Kelly had already told Erin about his son or their reunion at Med would be strained at best.

XXXXXXXX

Erin could only stand back in miserable silence and watch while Kelly was rushed into the ER examination room; Will giving her a firm nod before he too disappeared from view. She paced with anxious steps, glancing up at the small windows every so often to see if there was anyone who would be coming to give her an update on Kelly's condition.

"Come on…" she urged as she continued her useless pacing. Her mind raced to find a reason as to why Kelly would just rush into some strange building without gear and not giving much thought to the fact that he could have been killed.

"What's he not telling me?" Erin muttered as Will finally emerged with a somewhat relieved expression. "Will?"

"He's going to be okay. Took in some smoke inhalation. A few cuts and scrapes and some burns to his hands and face. He's really anxious to know how the family is doing."

"Can I see him?"

"Course."

Erin hurried toward Kelly's room and pulled the little curtain back and looked at his panicked expression.

"Did they all get out?"

"What is going on? Who are they that you would risk your life for them?" Erin asked in wonder.

"Erin…" Kelly started as his mind started to race with panicked thoughts as he raced to find the right way to tell her about the real reason he risked his life – and for who. His son.

But just as he was about to tell her about George Severide, the large ER doors to Chicago Med and in walked, Joe with George in his grasp; his family on one side and Hank Voight and Matt Casey on the other.

Erin followed Kelly's gaze and watched a look of panic turn to relief but she was at a loss as to who the strangers were heading toward her.

Then before she could ask Kelly if he knew those people, one word resounded through the whole area and forced her world to grind to a sudden halt.

"Daddy!" George shouted as struggled out of Joe's grasp and ran into Kelly's waiting arms.

"Thank God," Kelly whispered as he wrapped his arms tightly around his son, hugged him close and then slowly stood up and looked at Erin with a sheepish expression.

"Daddy? What's…going on Kelly? Who is this…boy?" Erin asked in instant confusion.

"Erin…this is my son…George. He was uh…with Joe."

"George, say hi to Erin."

George looked up at Erin and offered her a small smile and hello as he offered his little hand to her.

Her voice instantly caught in her throat as her hand took his little one in hers and gave it a small squeeze. "Hey," she managed softly as Kelly's eyes begged her for forgiveness.

"Matt, what's going on?" Gabby asked in a soft whisper as she joined her husband who was still beside Joe and his family; Voight a few meters from Erin and Kelly.

"That…is Kelly's son George. We pulled him out of the fire along with that family," Matt gestured with his head toward Joe.

"Son?"

"Yeah," he answered with a small frown as looked at the distressed expression on his friend's face. "I don't know the whole story – yet."

Kelly looked at all the faces around him as George snuggled into the crook of his father's neck. "I uh…I guess I have some explaining to do," he started as he looked at Joe who offered a sympathetic expression. "Thanks Joe…for keeping him safe."

"You take care Kelly. Come see me when you're done here."

He turned back to Erin; everyone else fading into a blur. "I wanted to tell you," he started as Voight turned and ushered the rest of the team to give them some privacy and after closing the curtain behind him; left the three of them closed off from the world around them.

"Is he really…" Erin started and then stopped as Kelly's expression instantly deflated. "Why didn't you tell me? Does this have to do with your father's death?" She dared to inquire. "Or…who's his mother? Does she live…around here?" Her mind raced with hundreds of questions.

As much as Kelly didn't like talking about Lesley Shay in front of his son, he knew he had to tell Erin the truth – he owed her at least that much.

"George you okay?" Kelly asked softly as he kissed the top of his son's head and slowly eased himself back down onto the small examination table.

As much as she hated to see him cringe from obvious pain, she had to know the truth about George's mother and why Kelly hadn't told her the truth right from the start.

Kelly pulled his borrowed phone and then searched the internet for the first article on Shay's death. "This…was her."

Erin quickly took the phone and then started to read the article and stopped. She had seen that face and that name before – in her search from the other night on anyone connected with Benny Severide's death. "She was…I've read about her," she started softly as Kelly looked up in defeat. "I'm so sorry."

"Dad's last words were for us to leave town. When I came here…I wasn't sure who was following or might find us and if they found him…and took him then…they…"

"Would use him against you," she interjected with a small head shake. "I wish you had just told me."

"I wanted to. I did but…"

"But what Kelly? You didn't even try!" Erin stated with a small huff before she looked down at George who looked up with a sad expression.

"I didn't think you'd want kids!" Kelly rushed as Erin's eyes slightly widened. "Sorry for shouting."

"I…" she tried before her words caught in her mouth and she felt her eyes welling. Then before Kelly could say another word, she stepped backward, pushed through the curtain and left him alone with George; his heart instantly deflating.

"I should have told her sooner," Kelly whispered as he rocked George in his grasp. A few seconds later, Matt appeared and he felt a small twinge of relief. "I should have told everyone. Boden pissed?"

"Figures you had your reasons. Kelly…"

"His mother was killed in Philly and then my dad. We came out here…I just wasn't sure how things would work out. I never meant to hurt or deceive anyone."

"I think Erin's in shock."

"Think she hates me," Kelly groaned as he slowly stood up. "George, this is Matt. We work together."

George muttered hello and then sank back into his father's strong grasp.

"Hey George," Matt smiled as he tenderly brushed the boy's face. "Trust me, she doesn't hate you. Voight on the other hand…he's still outside."

"Course he is. How's Joe?"

"He's a bit shaken up but okay. They're all okay. He said that they were in the backroom when he heard someone come in the front door. He went to check them out but he said someone put something in front of the door and then he smelt smoke. He tried to get out but wasn't able and then he called you. Glad you got there when you did."

"Yeah…me too. Matt…"

"Get some rest. Tomorrow…come into work and then tell the rest of the team. They're your family now. Whatever is going on; let them help you. Let me help you."

"Thanks man…I mean it. Thank you," Kelly said as Voight's face appeared as he stepped into the small room.

"See you tomorrow," Matt said as he took his leave.

"I didn't mean to not tell Erin. I don't blame her for walking out on me…on us and being pi…mad," he corrected as George looked up at Voight with a small frown.

"Does this have to do with the case?"

"Yes. If they find me…they find him. Can't take that chance."

"Get some rest…come by the precinct tomorrow and tell me what's going on."

"I…okay," Kelly replied with a small nod. "About Erin…"

"The one thing I have learned about Erin is…" Voight started as he pulled back the curtain and Kelly saw Erin standing a few meters away. "I let her make up her own mind. See you tomorrow Severide."

With George still in his grasp, Kelly slowly headed toward her with a wondering expression. "Erin…I'm so…"

"You've had a long day and he's had quite the scare. I should take you…"

"Home?" Kelly retorted with a sad huff. "That place that burned down today…that was my home," he told her weakly as her heart instantly drooped.

"What? I uh…okay then, we'll go to mine."

He looked at her in surprise but was too tired to argue so just nodded as the three of them headed toward the entrance of Chicago Med.

"And then…you can tell me the whole story."


A/N: the truth is now out there. Once Erin hears the whole story what will happen to the three of them? And who really set the fire? Are they closing in on Kelly? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!