"Where's the cash Jamie?"
"You know I haven't got it so why you forcing this? I told you when things settle, I will get you every cent. Naomi doesn't need to know about any of this. It's important that she carries the triplets to full term and Isaac is allowed to live peacefully."
"I don't give a damn about you reproducing or even your stupid little brats. They aren't my problem. I just want back the money I gave to your wife before I knew she wasn't mine and that Trudy had crossed me. And trust me she will regret ever deceiving me."
"Not as long as I am around. I will do whatever it takes to keep this family safe. You know that."
"I've got bigger fish to fry than sitting around waiting for you to start making the instalments to me. Those instalments are only touching me as the middleman. There is a bigger pawn in this game and sooner rather than later you are going to find that out and it will be when you least expect it. Your brother found that out when he tried to propose to Maggie on the centennial wheel last week. How is Maggie doing? Is she out of her coma yet?"
"You son of a bitch. How dare you?"
"Well Jamie, I warned you weeks ago that you'd have to start paying off this debt."
"I don't deal with the monkeys so I might as well just go to the organ grinder."
"Well, this monkey is self-restrained, and I can't guarantee that something more isn't going to be done if you don't get me the first instalment of five G's by the weekend."
"That gives me three days. That's not enough time."
"Make it enough time. Goodbye Jamie, I will see you soon. Look after that family."
Benny leaves the car park being watched by the organ grinders. They were always checking up on their business. Jay was just a pawn in the big game. Vengeance will be served. He would make sure of that. Tonight, was the battle of the badges as a warm up to the big firehouse wedding of the year or so it was dubbed by the firefighters' magazine.
Six weeks had passed since Jess had given birth to the quads and in that time Ivy-Quinn had been the most troublesome baby girl the family had known and that wasn't even including Isaac. This next generation of children in the family will definitely be able to overcome everything and potentially more so than this generation. Jay heads off to the precinct unaware that the organ grinders were watching and following. Unfortunately, no one was aware that the main organ grinder practically ran the precinct.
Arriving at the precinct Jay was met by Naomi and Isaac.
"Hey princess and hello my little prince. How are you both doing? Are you both ok? Has something happened to Jess? Are the quads, ok?"
"Baby slow down everyone is ok."
"Then why are you here?"
"I have great news about tonight. There's going to be a major surprise waiting for everyone."
"Are you going to let me in on this surprise?"
"Is it going to affect my match?"
"No but do me a favour?"
"What's that princess?"
"Try not to beat my brother up too much."
"Oh, baby girl you know I can't promise that."
"Really babe you are going to go there. You realise Kelly has gotten stronger since the last time you fought him, right?"
"Yes, I do I have been watching our last match on repeat and I have seen his new training videos so yes, I am well aware of his capabilities. That's why I've spent every waking moment in the home gym and the gym here. There's a lot of people relying on me for this match."
"Ok baby just don't kill him."
Naomi kisses Jay and Jay lifts his boy and kisses him on the head. Isaac gurgles and holds a smile for his dad.
Jay kisses Naomi on her head and put his son back in his pushchair hugging him for one last time before has a long eight-hour shift until he sees them again at the battle of the badges.
The shift for Jay went without incident and he had even managed to get some final training in before the big match.
Everyone was preparing for the battle of the century. This year the organisers had brought in the BIA as another party for the battle seeing as though they were so prevalent in helping to keep the peace around Chicago. Although Jay was entitled to fight for either the BIA, SOJs or the precinct his loyalty lay with his career. He had worked hard to get to where he was and not without personal sacrifice.
Seven pm arrived and Jay was counting down the hours until he got in the ring with his biggest foe. Kelly.
Everyone had arrived at Southport Fitness where they had set up a ring ready for the meeting of the emergency services at battle of the badges. There were a lot of people ready for their fights. Kelly had come in pumped knowing he was taking on his brother-in-law. He had been waiting for a match since Jess had beaten him in the last match. The only person that seemed to be missing and who hadn't turned up for their weigh in was Maverick. Since his diagnosis he had been put on to medication and Kelly had even been making more of an effort to get along. They actually found each other quite good support. Maverick was still working through a lot of issues, but he was doing well and making significant progress according to Dr Charles. He had been released four weeks after the quads were born and he was seeing them every day. Jess was staying in the side room that had been equipped with everything the quads needed on orders from the hospital and medical board and after the issues with Isaac recently the hospital was more accommodating and actually stuck to the contract from before but had done an updated copy for Jess and the family to sign. The hospital was sure to never make the same mistake knowing that the McHolland family were the most powerful in Chicago. They knew there was no limitations for a family such as theirs.
In the corner Ruzek and Tom were eyeing each other warily trying to figure out the others capabilities. They stood sizing each other up and as they were weighed in to check their weights to ensure a fair fight, they nodded slightly at each other, and fist bumped each other.
As the announcer and referee entered the ring the audience began to fall silent. As Tom entered the ring Chris was dutifully by his side as he was in every fight he had had since they were toddlers. As Tom entered the ring Chris whispered three little words to him that had been theirs in every fight since kindergarten and even nursery.
"Nail him bro."
"Will do my best."
"Watch him bro he shifts his left foot before he throws a punch."
"Got it."
"And bro…."
Chris whispers in his ear and as he does, he sees his twin brothers face change to stone and has a look of death in his eyes. Exactly the response Chris wanted, and he should get it after what Ruzek did. Chris had only seen this look once before and the guy Tom fought was beaten to within an inch of his life and was eating hospital food for twelve months after the fight. Chris knew the same outcome was going to happen after what he had just told Tom.
The twins looked at each other.
"For Mav, Jess, Star-Ophelia, Samuel-Paul and Afghanistan" they said in unison and put their foreheads together as a sign of solidarity.
The ring master calls both fighters to the centre of the ring. Tom stands up and enters the centre. Ruzek steps forward with a massive grin on his face. He sees Tom stone cold expression and knows he is in for a rough ride. They agree to the rules and bang fists. Tom hitting harder than he needed to. Tom went back to his corner and took a knee praying for vengeance to be served. In the way he did in every fight he did.
Tom stayed knelt in his corner as he anticipated Ruzek's move. He could hear the pads of Ruzek's heavy feet padding across the ring. As Ruzek approached Tom stood from his kneeling position with eyes closed still facing outwards and with his back towards the centre of the ring. The crowd was going wild.
Adam stepped on his foot. Tom anticipating it side stepped and left Ruzek dazed in the corner. Adam turned and as he did Tom planted an upper cut on Ruzek rendering him unconscious in a heap on the floor.
Tom stood waiting for the countdown
1…
2…
3…
4…
5…
6…
7…
8…
9…
"ADAM GET UP OFF THE FLOOR"
10…
"Aaaadddddaaaaammmmmm…"
Kim threw herself in to the ring to the side of her man. She ran her hands down his face. She turned to where Chris stood proud of his twin and Tom stood smirking.
"Why the fuck did you do that to him?"
"Because my dearest Kim your man shot my little sister and killed her unborn baby girl and her unborn baby boy, my niece and nephew, so he deserved what he got, and he deserves more but right now we will hold back. His time will come."
"He did what? I don't believe you?"
"Well, he did. Ask him. Go on."
Tom smirked knowing he had achieved what he set out to do. He had won the battle. Ruzek lay dazed as Tom returned to Chris in the corner.
"Well done bro. He deserved it."
"Oh, I know he did he had it coming for what he did to Jess, Mav and our beautiful perfect little niece Star-Ophelia and our nephew Samuel-Paul."
"You fucking what? What did he do? Hang on Jess named our babies? It was twins? Oh my god." Mavs voice came bellowing from beside the ring as he was about to step up and face Kelly.
"I am so sorry Mav. If I had known she was pregnant I would never have done it."
Tom and Chris looked to where Ruzek was laid on the floor in a half lying and half seated position with Kim helping him to stay seated. He looked as if he was about to beg for their forgiveness as the tears fell from his cheeks to the floor of the ring. That would literally be nothing less than he deserved to have to do. Kim on seeing the tears stood and backed away from him.
"You actually, did it? You bastard!" Kim said running away. Jess seeing this had slid back into the shadows. No one had expected her to be there or even knew she was there.
"I had a substantial pay out in my account and a message saying that if I didn't do what I was asked they were going to kill my family."
"Kill your family?! Well, you killed mine so this is the first and only warning you are going to get you had best stay the fuck away from my family now or it will be your families heads I come after first and then when you least expect it then it will be yours. You killed my little girl and little boy, and I lost the love of my life through your actions. I will never forgive. I will never forget. This is a lifetime vendetta, and it will never end."
"Maverick please man I never wanted to do it. Please just hear me out."
"I think you heard what the man said." Tom and Chris stood smirking knowing that Mav was about to use all of that pent up anger to win his fight against Kelly. Kelly had no clue what was coming. Chris and Tom looked at each other speculatively and just looked back at Mav. Once he had a thought in his head the only way, he could get it out was aggression and he had been the same way ever since they were little.
The thought of Mav kicking Kelly's ass was turning Jess on to the point she knew she had to rein it in. To see his six-foot five muscular build stood in front of her with no top on at the edge of the ring with his chocolate brown eyes she ventured out of her hiding place and stood in full view of everyone and everything and let out an uncharacteristic wolf whistle to which he turned his head knowing exactly where it had come from. There was only one woman who had ever whistled at him like that and that was his wife. Mav stood not knowing what to say or do so he just gave a little wave then turned back to the ring waiting to be called forward. Kelly stood apprehensively in the opposite corner. He had never seen Mav more determined than he did right now except for one occasion. Molly's. When he proposed to his little sister. Little did Jess know that the wedding was all booked and paid for and due to happen three days later. He hoped he didn't mark Mav too much. Mav being his normal self shrugged it off saying it gave character and Jess would have to just put up with it if she wanted to marry him. Kelly giggled at this. He had to come out of this looking good as his whole family were here. He had begun to think that he probably should have taken Mavs deal and both were to go down in the third round, and it was supposed to be a draw. That way no ego was broken, and everyone could go back to happily ever after.
Kelly stepped into his corner.
"Ok son give him hell but not so much that Jess kicks your ass."
"Thanks dad I got this handled."
"Ok son I trust your judgement."
"Can Maverick Mitchell and Kelly Severide please step forward?" the ring master called.
"Erm it's not Severide anymore. It's McHolland. I changed it. Surprise everyone."
"OVER MY DEAD FUCKING BODY ARE YOU CHANGING YOUR NAME."
Everyone looked to where the voice had come from and saw Benny hovering behind Stella. Stella stuck her foot out snidely as Benny went to pass. As he did Benny grabbed Stella pulling her to the floor. Kelly instinctively went to his wife's side. She rolled into a ball and started getting immediate stomach pains. Stella, with the help of Naomi and Kelly, got into her seat ready for the match to start. As Kelly moved to return to the ring Benny grabbed his arm. Kelly shrugged it off punching Benny in the eye for good measure. Benny turned muttering under his breath that the McHolland's would pay for this insult.
Mav stood up taking position while he waited for Kelly to enter the ring.
Chris and Tom looked at the scene. Kelly stood stationary. Mav was bouncing up and down and this did not bode well for Kelly. Tom and Chris glanced at each other and knew the outcome of this fight was not going to end well for Kelly.
Damn did Mav have moves. What no one realised was that Mav had undergone extensive training with the navy seals and had been an undercover operative for twelve months of his term in the military. He trained with the very best and even helped with Chris and Toms training regime for the CFD. The bell rang and Mav went into the centre of the ring and met Kelly head on.
Mav went out swinging. Unfortunately, Kelly was on the receiving end of an upper cut to the chin from the right hand and then jabbed straight on the cheekbone by the left. Kelly was quick but Mav had lightning reflexes. Reflexes that Kelly was nowhere even close to in speed.
Kelly fell to the floor. The ref started counting.
1…
2…
3…
AAARRGGGHHHH
4…
5…
6…
AAARRGGGHHHH
7…
8…
9…
AAARRGGGHHHH
10…
"You're out Kelly."
AAARRGGGHHHH
"MMMMOOOMMMMMMM"
"TTTRRRUUUDDDDYYYY"
"Oh, my fucking god here we go again…"
"Which one of you girls screamed Mom?"
"They all did except me mom" Jess said.
"Oh fuck"
"Let's get going then girls."
"Where's Wallace?"
"Mother are you ok?"
"No, my waters have just broken."
"AAARRRGGGHHHH"
"Girls don't you think we ought to get you to the hospital."
"MMMMEEEEENNNNNN WIIIIITTTHHHH PREEGGGGEEERRRSSS WIIIIIVVVEEEESSSSS GGGGEEETTTT CCCCAAAARRRRSSSSS"
"Fuck…"
"Shit…"
"Bollocks…."
Jay, Mouch, and Matt all started to scramble panicking about their wives. Wallace seeing the chaos and realising Donna was also in labour raised his voice in his chief bellow.
"MEN TAKE CONTROL AND STOP PANICKING. MOBILISE TO YOUR CARS. KELLY THAT INCLUDES YOU JUDGING BY THE LOOK OF STELLA AND GET YOUR WIVES TO THE HOSPITAL. WE WILL BE EN ROUTE AND RIGHT BEHIND YOU."
The men instantly calmed. They all ran off in different directions with the exception of Mouch who realised in his momentary lapse of control that they had caught a taxi. Trudy shouts at Mouch.
"Randall McHolland get your ginger fat ass over here and get the car in motion we need to get to the hospital for our daughters and Donna"
"Trudy, we caught a taxi here?"
"Oh, for goodness sakes find someone here that has a car here we can use."
"Could we not uber it?"
Mouch starts to walk towards Trudy and slips in the massive puddle at his wife's feet.
"Guess not. Trudy, my love, we need to get you an ambulance."
"Why its only my waters. Oh, fuck that's not waters. Randall, I think you could be right."
Hermann observing the scene and knowing this was going to be a delivery on the floor of the gym mobilised and came running back in with the emergency obgyn kit he kept for when Cindy was pregnant. As he ran to Trudy and Mouch's side, he also slipped in the puddle but realising there was blood in the puddle shouted for someone to call an ambulance.
The girls and their husbands were almost at med. Donna and Wallace were in the fire buggy sat waiting for a space at med. Luckily enough Will had been patched in when Naomi went into labour at the same time as Sylvie. They were expecting three women not five.
Donna tried to get out of the vehicle when she was swept into the strong arms of her husband lifting her out of the vehicle and running with her into the department. Donna was rushed to the operating room. The team were prepped and ready to go. They had already had warning that Donna was on her way in after her waters broke. They had to get the babies out safely and as a matter of urgency. Donna and Wallace were the only ones who knew that Donna couldn't have a normal birth as when she found out she was pregnant there were problems and she had to have a stitch put into her cervix to stop the babies being lost. The cervical stitch meant that Donna had to have a caesarean section. Time was of the utmost importance right now to get her prepped.
On the other side of the ward two adjoining rooms were opened up and the twins were laid on the beds in gowns waiting until the time arrived to hold their beautiful babies. Matt and Jay decided to meet in the corridor. They started discussing the labours and hoping that for both their wives' sakes nothing went wrong as it was all on their mind that Naomi had a difficult time with Isaac, partly through her own stubbornness but partly through no fault of hers. The hospital being aware of all these anxieties from both women had put procedures into place. The contract that had been initiated nine months previously still stood. The whole family knew the hospital couldn't risk any more issues. Especially with the babies of the McHolland brood. They had it all in hand or so they thought. Naomi and Sylvie being twins let out screams at the same time. They were both close. Naomi had a really long way to go with having to deliver triplets. Sylvie had twins on the way. However, there was a shock coming from the form of Stella who now ran into the room. On seeing her sister in laws vaginas promptly turned her back.
"Can we help you, Stella. Your sisters are rather busy right now and we need to concentrate" Maggie said.
"Yes, I had to share the exciting news with them. I wanted Jess to know as well but can't find her anywhere."
"She's behind you Stella" Maggie said in her focused no bullshit attitude.
"I'm having a boy. Wallace Randall"
The four girls screamed in excitement. Jess jumped up and ran over to Stella to congratulate her.
"Ok now can we focus on the task in hand please girls?" Maggie said abruptly.
Since her accident and coming round from the coma she found life was too short and right now she was tired. She was at the end of a fourteen-hour shift and even Will mentioned the tension in the air. Will had been by Maggie's side the whole time she was in a coma apart from when he needed a shower. Little did Will know but Maggie had overheard the conversation with Jay and was tensely waiting for the night Will told her the truth.
"Maggie, I think I need to push" Sylvie half screamed at her.
"And me" Naomi said.
"Do you girls have to do everything together?"
"YYYYEEEESSSSS" they screamed together in unison as the contraction took over their body and they began to push.
Maggie chuckled.
Will stood watching Maggie and he was struggling to keep his emotions in check. For so long Will had thought it was a good idea to keep the relationship a secret but through Maggie being in hospital in a coma and every second he sat by her bedside he knew he was always going to have to tell her. In fact, Mav had agreed to let him propose at their wedding and Jess had been on board in fact she had actively encouraged him. It was all set. Will smiled and just as he was about to turn away Maggie caught him standing there and gave her shy little smile that she reserved for only Will. They waved and went about their business.
"SOMEONE CATCH…."
Baby one of both Naomi and Sylvie came out at the same time. 20:00 hours. Both were boys. Randall Matthew for Sylvie and Edward Jacob for Naomi.
As Maggie stood supervising the births of the babies a figure leaned against the door frame watching her work in awe of this stupendous woman. He was soon to be discovered.
"Will, Will, Will."
Maggie turned seeing Will being approached by the twins.
"Alexander, Eliza, how are you both today?"
"We are great thank you. Uncle Will why were you watching Maggie?"
"I… Erm... I… Better get back to work now. Lots of patients to see."
The twins looked confused. They shrugged their shoulders and went into the waiting room where their mom and dad were waiting.
"BRO…. Where you going?" Jay shouted after the blushing Will as he retreated down the corridor.
Mav looked at Jess and smiled knowing exactly what had happened.
"Got to go Jay I will be back later after I have seen all my patients."
Jay stood watching after his brother and the smirk on Jess and Mav's faces.
"Ok spill the beans over what has got my brother flustered and running down the corridor."
"No idea mate."
Jay stood and the penny dropped. Maggie was blushing as well.
"Well, well, well. Really, you don't know anything… Bull shit! Maverick Mitchell, you had better come clean."
"The twins nailed it bro when they caught him staring at her. There's a plan in the working for our wedding."
"Wedding… what wedding?" Jess looked straight into Mav's eyes and asked.
"OH FUCK!" Mav shouted. Everyone looked and realised he had dropped his secret wedding. They all burst into laughter.
"Cats out the bag now bro… enjoy…" Jay said as he scarpered.
"JAY, YOU HAD BETTER GET BACK HERE NOW AND HELP."
"Baby I want an answer…"
"Ok princess. Well in two days' time I have your fairy tale wedding arranged and I really want you to be there. It's about time this family had some good news."
"FFFFUUUUUUCCCCCCCKKKKKKK" rang out from where Trudy was sat with Mouch in the corner. A puddle of blood leaked through on to the chair. Maggie hit the crash alarm and Trudy and Mouch were whisked off down the corridor.
"Sylvie hold my hand. I think our next babies are coming. Matt and Jay ran back into the room with the boys in their arms. Placing the boys down the husbands went back to attending to their wives as they pushed out their second babies at 2030. Kelly Donna for Naomi and Meghan Trudy for Sylvie. The men were stood crying as they watched their precious girls being born. They stood in awe looking at their wives wondering how they managed to give birth like this. Together in solidarity. Twins really did do everything together.
The NICU unit was going to be really busy tonight. Wallace had come out of the operating theatre to tell everyone that both of their twins had been born healthy but were small and needed a little intervention. They had been named Ava-Jahnae and Judah-Steven.
Everyone cheered and patted Wallace on the back. Terrence threw himself in to his dads' arms. Cindy had been looking after the children that night whilst everyone was at battle of the badges. Naomi cried as she heard that her adopted mother had successfully and fairly without incident given birth to her new baby brother and sister. She was thrilled. At this point another wave swept over Naomi as Sylvie clasped her hand Naomi pushed out her smallest baby into the world. Little Stella Jessica. As Naomi gave birth to Stella Jessica or SJ as she was named Sylvie cried out squeezing Naomi's hand. Maggie ran over to check Sylvie.
"Sylvie, you need to push."
"Why I am only having twins."
"Erm… Hate to tell you this but your third baby is on its way. Did you seriously not know?"
"NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO" Sylvie screamed at Maggie.
"Hey sis I'm here you can do this."
"Oh, Fuck Jay we are going to need another name" Matt says to his brother-in-law who is stood holding his beautiful princesses.
"How about Percival Archibald Casey?" Jay suggests.
"Yes… Baby… Lets… Do… That…" Sylvie says between pants.
Eight babies already born to the McHolland tribe.
"Oh, my fucking god. Where are we going to put all these babies in this hospital? Someone page Will and get him down here."
"He's in surgery with Trudy" the intern who had snuck in volunteered.
"Is Trudy, ok?" Maggie asked.
"Yes, they've had to do an emergency caesarean, but Mr McHolland is pacing around outside the theatre looking like a headless chicken." The intern laughed.
"You realise that those people you are laughing at are our parents, right?" Naomi says.
The intern stands uncomfortably in the corner as Naomi and Sylvie glare at her.
Maggie intervenes and tells the intern to get out of the room, get off shift, and go home.
"You can't do that I am on a contract."
"Right now, you are upsetting family of mine so how about you do as I say and leave before I fire your sorry ass and rip up your contract in front of you."
"You aren't allowed to do that."
"One more word to come out of your mouth and it will be instant dismissal."
"That will never stand in court."
"YOUR'E FIRED GET OUT OF THIS HOSPITAL. AH WILL MAKE SURE THIS CHILD GETS OUT OF THIS HOSPITAL AND IS ESCORTED BY SECURITY."
"Ok Maggie your wish is my command."
Naomi and Sylvie look between each other and then back at Maggie and then at Will.
"Oh my god you two are together."
Maggie stands tall and looks at Will. He drops to one knee.
"Over these last three months you've been amazing and through all the accident you've made me realise that life is for living. Will you marry me? Be my wife. I was supposed to be asking you at the secret wedding of the year but that never happened because I can't wait another minute to start living my life with you?"
Will waits….
