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CHAPTER 13

After getting a few hours of sleep, Casey woke up and got dressed for a night out. Deep down, he hoped that Brett would be at Molly's. He loved being around her and loved how she would get dressed up just for a night out at Molly's. He smiled and shook his head with a slight chuckle.

"Matt, what are you doing?" he told himself.

He changed into a pair of dark navy blue jeans and a black dress shirt. Although the weather was starting to warm up, it was still a bit cold out. After changing his clothes, he splashed a little bit of cologne on, put his shoes on, grabbed his wallet and keys, and left. Back at Brett's apartment, Foster had just left to go to Molly's. Brett was getting ready for a night out after a crazy and unforgettable shift. She changed into a pair of dark navy jeans and a black lacy dress shirt. She put on some makeup, put her black flat shoes on, grabbed her purse, and left.

"Hey, I was beginning to wonder if you were gonna show up or not. When Stella and I got home, we yelled for you for dinner but you were passed out cold." Severide said.

"Yeah, I was tired." Casey replied.

The tone in his voice was enough to warn Severide not to push the subject. Casey wasn't sure if Brett was coming or not, but deep down, he hoped she would. Foster told Stella, Severide, and Casey that she had been accepted back into med school but Brett didn't know.

"So, when do you plan on telling Brett?" Casey asked.

Foster paused.

"Uh..." Foster said.

"Look, I'm not trying to give you grief over this, but she's your partner and she has a right to know that you had a meeting with the school and got accepted into the program." Casey stated.

"I know but here's the thing. If I go back to med school, I'll have to move out and stay in the dorms. I don't know how she's gonna take the news. Cruz moved out, she lost Julie, then Scott and the baby moved back to Rockford, I mean, she's been through enough already." Foster said.

"You know, she's stronger than you think." Casey said.

"I know. I just I don't know how I'm gonna break the news to her." Foster said.

"Take a deep breath and just tell her. It's gonna hurt worse coming from someone else and not you." Casey said.

"You're right. I'll tell her at home." Foster smiled.

Foster went over to a table where some of her friends were. As Casey, Severide, and Stella continued to chat, Brett finally showed up.

"Sorry I'm late, I had to catch a cab." Brett said.

"What happened to your car?" Casey asked.

"It wouldn't start. I had one of my neighbors try to jump it but nothing worked. They checked the battery and it's fine. I've gotta call a tow truck in the morning and see if they can't tow it to a garage." Brett sighed.

"Don't do that. I'll swing by in the morning and take a look at it. Could be that the battery became undone somehow or something simple." Casey said.

"Thanks, Casey." Brett smiled.

"I'm buying. What are you having?" Casey asked with a sly grin.

Brett smiled.

"Um, Amaretto Sour." Brett told Stella.

Stella gave her a look.

"I'm trying something new." Brett told Stella.

Stella made the drink and gave it to Brett.

"Hey, so uh, you, me, and Foster need to have a girl's night soon." Stella said.

"Absolutely." Brett smiled.

Stella was about to say something but a customer got her attention. Casey and Brett chatted for about an hour before Foster came over to talk to Brett. She dreaded the conversation but it needed to be had.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" Foster asked Brett.

"Sure." Brett replied.

Brett got up and placed her purse on the bar. She knew Casey wouldn't let anyone grab her purse. When she walked away from the bar, Casey immediately grabbed the purse and told Stella to put it behind the bar for safe keeping. Only Herrmann, Mouch, and Stella were allowed behind the bar. Foster and Brett were in the hallway where the restrooms were.

"So, you're moving out?" Brett asked after Foster told her the news.

"Yeah. So, school starts in June. It's a new accelerated program and since I was nearly finished with med school, they want me to start in two weeks." Foster explained.

Brett was shocked, hurt, angry, but most of all she was surprised. Foster talked about how she wanted to go back to med school but couldn't and after Will Halstead made the call for her, she couldn't turn down the opportunity for a second chance.

"Oh." Brett mustered.

Foster could tell by the small words and small sentences that Brett felt betrayed but at the same time, she knew that Brett understood.

"I get it and I'm happy for you." Brett smiled.

Brett gave her friend a hug and smile and then returned to the bar. Stella saw Brett and handed Brett's purse back to her.

"Thanks." Brett half smiled.

Stella smiled and got back to work as Molly's was busier than usual, mainly because the college students were finishing up midterms and going on Spring Break. Brett tinkered with her drink before pushing it away.

"You know, I'm not in the mood for this. I think I'm just gonna home." Brett said as grabbed her purse and stood up from her seat.

As she got ready to leave, Casey grabbed her hand.

"Don't leave yet." he smiled and then released her hand.

He got up, paid for the drinks that he and Brett had, and then walked out with Brett.

"Let me take you home." he smiled.

She smiled at him and knew better than to argue with him.

"Ok." she said.

Casey unlocked the passenger door and opened it for Brett to get in.

"While thank you, sir." she joked.

"You're welcome, your Highness." he joked back.

They chuckled and then Casey walked over to his door, unlocked it, and then got in. He started the truck and put it in drive and drove Brett to her place.

"You alright? Ever since Foster talked to you, you have been kind of quiet." he said.

"I don't wanna talk about it." she said.

Casey didn't wanna push the subject but knew that Foster had just told Brett the news. It was a very quiet ride and Casey was a bit worried about Brett. She had been through so much and now, another one of her so called best friends is leaving her yet again. First, Gabby takes off to Puerto Rico without saying so much as a goodbye to her. Second, Otis dies. Third, Cruz gets married and leaves, and now Foster is moving out. It's bad enough that she lost a friend to a fire that never should have happened and then she lost her biological mom, but now, she feels abandoned. As they pulled into the parking lot of the apartment building where Brett lives, Brett let out a sigh. Casey parked the truck and then turned to look at her.

"Do you want any company?" he asked.

She looked at him with a half smile.

"Sure. I haven't had dinner yet." she giggled.

"I can always order a pizza." he said.

"Sounds good." she smiled.

They got out of the truck and walked up to the apartment. Once inside the apartment, Brett closed the door. Her cell phone rang with a text message from Foster.

"WON'T BE HOME TONIGHT. - FOSTER." the text message read.

"Looks like Foster won't be home tonight." she sighed.

Before Casey could reply to what she said, he also received a text message.

"DON'T COME HOME TONIGHT...STELLA'S ORDERS. LOL. - SEVERIDE." the text message read.

"Well, looks like Severide doesn't want me to come home." Casey said.

"Join the party. I'm gonna get a beer. You want one?" she asked.

Brett was in the mood to get drunk and nothing was going to change her mind.

"Sure. You get the beer and I'll order the pizza." he said.

As Brett grabbed the beer, Casey placed an order for two pizzas.

"So, the pizzas will be here in about thirty minutes." he said.

"Good. In the meantime, here's your beer." she smiled.

"You know, I love rooming with Severide, but I spend more time away from his place than I should." he chuckled.

Brett let out a big laugh.

"Well, I'm losing yet another roommate. First Otis, then Cruz, and now Foster. Am I really that bad of a roommate?" she asked rhetorically.

"If you are, then so am I. At least twice a week, Severide and Stella want some alone time and I end up having to go to Herrmann's house or some hotel room." he chuckled.

They both took a sip of their beer and continued to talk until the pizza arrived. After paying for the pizza, Casey brought it over to the living room and placed it on the table. Brett grabbed the paper towels and some paper plates and then walked over to the living room and placed it beside the pizza.

"You want another beer before I sit down?" she asked.

"Uh, sure." he replied.

She went to the fridge and got another beer for her and Casey along with two bottled waters and then went back to the living room. She sat down beside of Casey and handed placed the drinks on the table. They grabbed a plate and a piece of pizza and then began to eat and talk a bit.

"So, what are you doing tomorrow on your day off?" he asked.

"Oh, Mr. Larson called and asked me if I could come over and help him with his house." she said with a smile.

Casey chuckled a bit.

"Funny. He asked me if I could help fix the rest of the roof. You know his house is almost completely fixed after the fire." he said.

Brett giggled.

"He is one of the sweetest people that I have ever met. You know, he told me that ever since his wife passed away, he feels alone. He said that his wife always made Sunday dinner after church." she said.

"I know." he replied.

They talked for several hours and even watched a movie on TV that they both fell asleep to. The next morning, they both woke up around the same time.

"What time is it?" Casey asked as he looked around and realized that Brett was beside of him.

"I don't know." Brett yawned as she realized Casey was still at Brett's house.

Casey yawned.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stay the night. I must have fallen asleep while watching the movie." Casey said.

Brett giggled.

"It's ok. Plus, Foster isn't here and it's not like we did anything wrong." Brett said.

She checked the time on the clock on the wall in the kitchen.

"It's only 8:00. What time do you have to be at Mr. Larson's?" she asked.

"He told me noon." he said.

"Same." she said.

He stood up and stretched.

"I'm gonna head back home. I'm gonna get a shower and change clothes before going to Mr. Larson's." he said.

She stood up in front of him. They walked over to the door.

"Thanks for last night." she smiled.

"Anytime." he smiled back.

He gave her a hug and then walked out the door. He smiled back at her before closing the door. She walked over to the door and locked it before going into her bedroom. She and Casey were getting close and she was having mixed feelings about him.
She wasn't sure if she was falling in love with him, developing deeper feelings that go beyond friendship, or what was going on, but she knew that Casey was the only one in her life who could relate to her more than anyone else.