Hey everyone, thank you all for the reviews! I'm sorry it's taken so long to post this chapter. I've been out of town for a few days and unable to update my fanfics. Please continue to leave reviews and I hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

CHAPTER 3

After shift had ended, Brett went to Severide's apartment where Casey lived. She kept changing her mind all day about reading the letter. She knocked on the door and Casey answered it.

"Please tell me that you still have the letter?" Brett pleaded.

Casey gave her a look.

"You watched me throw it away." Casey replied.

"You mean to tell me that you didn't go get it out of the trash when I wasn't looking?" Brett asked.

Casey smiled and walked over to his bag and pulled out the letter. He handed Brett the letter and she was nervous.

"Take your time." Casey replied.

"That's easier said than done. You're not the one who decided to read the letter, only to change your mind at the very last minute and then debate on it all day long." Brett chuckled.

"True, but I knew you would eventually want to read this." Casey said.

Brett took a deep breath and looked at the letter. Casey was walking away when she called out.

"Will you stay with me while I open this?" Brett asked.

He smiled and turned to her.

"Absolutely." Casey said as he walked over to her.

Brett finally managed to open the letter that she had been dreading all day but found that it wasn't a letter at all. Casey studied Brett's face for a minute.

"What is it?" Casey asked.

"It's just a name and an address. It also says that my mom's name is Julie and she lives in Rockford, Illinois." Brett read as she showed Casey the paper.

Casey read the paper but noticed that Brett seemed to be a bit on edge. Brett took a deep breath and released it.

"So, what do you want to do?" Casey asked.

"I don't know. It stills feels a bit intrusive of her to want to seek contact with with me after all this time. I mean, she's had over twenty years to come find me. My parents will always be my parents but I feel like this woman is invading my personal space and I don't know what to do." Brett sighed.

Casey wrapped his arms around Brett. She leaned into his chest and tears started to fall down her face. She wrapped her arms around him and they stood there for a few minutes before pulling away.

"Uh, I'm sorry. I guess I should let you get back to whatever or wherever you were going. I'll see you next shift." Brett said as she started to leave.

Casey grabbed her hand.

"You don't have to go." Casey whispered.

"Casey, I don't know what to do." Brett said.

"Then you and I will figure it out together. I'm glad you can trust me enough with something like this." Casey said.

"Of course I trust you. Why wouldn't I?" Brett asked.

"I guess it's because you helped me get over everything that happened with Gabby and honestly, I went through a bit of a wild phase after she left." Casey said.

"I remember." Brett chuckled.

"What I'm saying is that I wanna be here for you just like you were there for me, that is, if you will let me." Casey said.

"Of course." Brett smiled.

"I was gonna head out to Molly's but I can stay here instead." Casey said.

"It's your place. I'll just go home..." Brett said before Casey interupted her.

"You're staying." Casey insisted.

"Ok." Brett chuckled.

They both then let out a small laugh and then sat on the couch.

"I'm scared." Brett admitted.

"There's nothing to be scared of." Casey said.

"Then why do I feel like someone is watching me? Ever since I found out my birth mom wanted to find me, I've felt like someone has been watching me. I know that sounds crazy, but I guess it could just be this unsettling feeling I've had ever since I found out she's wanting to make contact with me." Brett said.

"I told you that you don't have to go through this alone." Casey reaffirmed.

"I know. I don't know if it's all this stress of not knowing and then finding out that it was just a name and an address or if it's the fact that I am not sure if I wanna meet her or not." Brett explained.

Casey looked at her and gave her a half smile.

"If you want to meet her, I'll go with you but that's a decision that you're going to have to make. I'll stand by you no matter what." Casey said.

"There's just one problem with all of that." Brett said.

"Which is what, exactly?" Casey asked.

"I haven't found a way to tell my parents. I mean, it's not something you tell them over the phone but I can't go to Fowlerton and tell them in person." Brett said.

"You need to tell them." Casey said.

"I know and I will. I promise, but I just need a bit to take in everything that's happened and then go from there." Brett said.

Casey took his hand and wiped Brett's tears from her face.

"Just take a deep breath and take it day by day." Casey said.

Brett laughed.

"Matthew Casey, you are such a great friend." Brett said as she gave Casey a hug.

Casey happily returned her hug and then looked at her.

"I hate to see you cry." Casey whispered.

Brett looked at Casey and smiled.

"I hate crying but it's one of my weaknesses." Brett giggled.

"I don't think it's a weakness you have. I think you're human just like all of us." Casey said.

"I better get going. I don't have the strength to stay up much longer." Brett said.

"You could always stay here. I could sleep on the couch." Casey suggested.

"Thanks for the offer but I think I just need some time to myself to process everything." Brett said.

"Alright. You know I'm here whenever you need me." Casey said.

"I know." Brett said and stood up.

Casey stood up as well and followed Brett over to the door.

"Thank you for everything. I owe you." Brett chuckled and gave Casey a hug.

Casey gave a slight chuckle and returned her hug.

"You don't owe me anything. I'm just glad I can I help." Casey replied.

They stood in an awkward silence for a few seconds.

"What are you doing tomorrow off shift?" Casey asked.

"I don't know. I was thinking about going to see Mr. Larson and Dusty but other than that, I have no plans." Brett answered.

"Mind if I tag along when you go see Mr. Larson and Dusty?" Casey asked.

"I don't mind at all. I think he would like that." Brett smiled.

"Text me when you get ready to leave and I'll meet you at your place. We can go together to see him." Casey suggested.

"Sounds like a plan." Brett smiled.

They smiled at each other and gave each other another hug. They said their goodbyes and Brett left. When she arrived home, she headed straight for her bedroom since no one else was home. She took out the piece of paper with her birth mother's name and address on it. She read the name and address several times before putting it inside her nightstand where she kept some of her books she sometimes reads before bed. She changed into her pajamas and went to bed. Back at Severide's apartment, Casey was restless. He was worried about Brett. He wondered about how she was taking the news that her birth mother left her a name with an address. As he tried to sleep, his mind continued to wondered. He thought about how close he and Brett were standing in the living room of Severide's apartment and when he wiped her tears away, he wanted to kiss her in that moment.

"Go to sleep, Casey." he told himself.

Restlessness crept in on Casey. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't sleep. He glanced at his phone, hoping that he might have received a text from Brett. His face lit up at the message he had received.

"THANKS FOR BEING THERE FOR ME. CAN'T WAIT UNTIL TOMORROW. LOVE, BRETT." the text read.

He read the text message several different times before replying.

"CAN'T WAIT TOO SEE YOU TOMORROW. LOVE, CASEY." the text said.

Brett was restless and as soon as she heard her phone buzz, she glanced at it and smiled. She read the text and immediately replied.

"HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING. - BRETT." the text said.

Casey read the text and immediately replied.

"ME TOO. - CASEY." the text said.

They continued their little chat for an hour before they both finally fell asleep. Brett was getting ready the next morning when she decided to text Casey.

"GETTING READY NOW. MEET ME AT 10? - BRETT." the text said.

As Casey was getting out of the shower, he heard his phone go off. He instantly checked his phone, smiled at the text message, and replied.

"BE THERE AT 10. - CASEY." he texted back.

Brett read the text and smiled. She finished getting ready and grabbed a protein bar from the cabinet and ate it. She poured herself a half of glass of orange juice and after she was finished, she threw the paper from the protein bar away and put the glass in the sink. She didn't want to eat much since she had promised Mr. Larson that she would have breakfast with him. She and Mr. Larson were becoming good friends as was Casey and Mr. Larson. Casey was getting ready to head out when Severide stopped him.

"Hey man, don't forget that we have that house to finish today." Severide said.

"I won't. I have something to do before we go finish the house." Casey said.

"Alright. Catch you later." Severide said as Casey headed out the door.

Casey got into his truck and headed to Brett's apartment. Once he got there, he headed upstairs and knocked on her door. She answered the door and smiled at seeing Casey.

"Hey, come in. I'm almost ready." Brett said.

Casey stepped inside and waited on Brett to finish getting ready. Brett applied very little eyeliner and eyeshadow, enough to brighten her eyes and quickly sprayed some Victoria's Secret Love Spell body spray and headed out of her bedroom.

"Ready?" Brett asked.

"Absolutely." Casey said.

Brett grabbed a bag from the counter and then her keys and purse and after locking the door behind her, they headed out to Mr. Larson's house. Casey couldn't help but notice the bag that Brett had in her hand as they got into his truck.

"Did you get Dusty some cat food?" Casey chuckled.

"Of course." Brett joked.

Casey shook his head with a slight laugh.

"It's a good thing that Dusty and Mr. Larson can rely on you for those cat treats." Casey chuckled.

"Well, I love that cat." Brett smiled.

They chatted on the way to Mr. Larson's house but Brett still had the events from the night before playing in her mind. Casey pulled up to Mr. Larson's house that he was staying in while his house gets fixed from the fire. Casey could see that something was bothering Brett and he knew exactly what it was. After putting the truck in park, Casey turned to Brett before they got out of the truck.

"Hey, I have to help Severide with a house later if you wanna help. We need to paint a few rooms and then it will be finished. Kidd said she was gonna help and we could use the help." Casey said.

"Yeah, sounds good. Would you mind taking me back to the apartment after we are done here so I can put on some old clothes?" Brett asked.

"Absolutely." Casey smiled.

They got out of the truck and walked up to Mr. Larson's door and rang the doorbell. He answered the door with a kind greeting.

"If it isn't my two favorite people. Please, come on in." Mr. Larson smiled.

Mr. Larson let Brett and Casey into his house and Dusty happily greeted them with a purr. They came inside the house and sat down on the couch in the living room, while Mr. Larson sat down in his reclining chair. Dusty instantly jumped up onto Brett's lap and sat there, purring and content.