Disclaimer: I don't own Chicago Fire or any affiliated shows, or the characters thereof. This is just for fun.
I hope that you like the latest chapter of An Occupational Hazard.
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Chapter Eleven
It was amazing how easily Kelly was able to pull strings to plan the wedding on such short notice. Playing the terminal cancer card may have had a role in that though.
And so, on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon two weeks later, Stella found herself walking down the aisle in a dress that could not have been more perfect. It amazed her that the dressmakers had been able to alter it enough to flatter her pregnant form. Stella knew as she took each step why Kelly was so keen to marry her, she could already see that he was tiring out standing at the front of the church. Stella also was not naive enough not to know that there were other factors, such as the inevitable death benefits and CFD pension that she would only receive as Kelly's widow, that had probably prompted him to propose in the first place. But ultimately none of that mattered, Stella loved Kelly with all her heart, and she wanted to be his wife.
Sylvie helped Stella adjust the train of her dress, before taking her place at beside the alter as maid of honour, as Stella handed her the bouquet.
"You look incredible," Kelly murmured as Stella stood opposite him.
"You clean up pretty well too," Stella whispered, smiling.
The chaplain cleared her throat, "Are we ready to begin?"
The couple both nodded subtly.
"We are gathered here today to witness the union of these two exceptional people. As well as being firefighters and heroes in their own right, I am sure that most of you here are aware that Kelly and Stella have fought through tremendous adversities and continue to do so. In saying this, I believe that it is a true sign of their strength as a couple that they continue to forge their way through what life has thrown at them in order to be with us today. Kelly and Stella have written their own vows to each other. Kelly, would you like to begin?"
"Stella, you are the strongest and bravest woman I've ever met. Instead of running away when things got bad, you have been my best and most wonderful supporter, and I know that whatever comes next, you will be an amazing mother to our child." Kelly finished, clutching Stella's hands in his own.
"Kelly, I thought for a long time about what I would say as we stand here before our friends and family, and in all honesty I truly just want to tell you that I will always love you and hold you in my heart. I couldn't be more grateful that you have given me the gift of being a mother to our child, and I promise that regardless of whatever happens, they will always know what an incredible man their father is," Stella finished, her voice cracking ever so slightly as tears welled in her eyes.
"May I have the rings?" The chaplain asked Casey, who was standing as Kelly's best man.
Casey promptly handed the rings from his breast pocket to the chaplain.
Kelly accepted one of the rings from the chaplain silently.
"I, Kelly Severide, take you, Stella Kidd, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." Kelly finished breathlessly, and he gently slid the wedding band onto Stella's delicate finger.
Then, it was Stella's turn.
"I, Stella Kidd, take you, Kelly Severide, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part." Stella recited the vows only faltering as she reached the end, but to her credit, she looked into Kelly's equally teary eyes as she slid the wedding band on his finger.
"You may now kiss your bride," The chaplain announced warmly as the couple exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife, and the gathered crowd erupted into applause (and the occasional wolf whistle).
Present time
Although the couple very much enjoyed their brief respite from Kelly's symptoms, it gradually became evident to Stella and to a lesser degree, Kelly, that the few weeks of relatively normality was not going to last.
First, it was a stumble down the stairs, then needing prompting to take the medications he'd been on for months, or even to eat.
As Stella passed her thirty-first week of pregnancy, the strain of having a terminally ill partner began to wear her down, but when it was considered that she had held her nine to five job at the academy and working behind the bar at Molly's every other night, well, it was pretty amazing that Stella held every together for as long as she did.
But as Stella set Kelly's pills out next to a carefully written schedule telling him when to take which medication because he couldn't remember the instructions by himself anymore, it occurred to her that perhaps it was time to go to see the palliative care team again. So, Stella finished up her chores, and threw her CFD jacket over her shoulders as she gathered her bag for work, she quietly found her cell phone to call the palliative care nurse.
"Hello, Susan West speaking," The palliative care nurse answered her phone on the second ring.
"Hi Susan, it's Stella Kidd, I'm Kelly Severide's wife. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course I do, Stella. What can I help you with? It's been awhile since we last spoke."
"I think I might need some help. Kelly's cancer has spread to his brain, and that is really affecting him. Maybe I'm just a bit tired, but Kelly doesn't remember to take his medication, which means he has seizures sometimes. And his balance isn't good, so he's had a couple of falls lately..." Stella trailed off, feeling guilty as she said it aloud that she hadn't reached out sooner.
"Okay. It sounds like Kelly might benefit from either some time in our respite wing or having regular carers coming into the house, particularly when you're not home. I presume that you're still working?"
"I have to," Stella replied. "Our CFD medical insurance doesn't cover everything, and I still have to get the bills paid."
"So you are in financial difficulty too?"
"Some, I guess so. But I don't know, I don't want to force care on Kelly. He already gets so confused if I change our routine."
"So, Kelly has also been experiencing some memory loss?"
Stella sighed tiredly. She might as well be honest now. "Some days he looks at me, and I'm not sure if he knows who I am. But he knows that I'm someone close to him I think," Stella added quickly, trying to relay an accurate picture. "But the other day he got startled and struck out. I'm fine though, I only needed a few stitches."
"Let's start by arranging a meeting at your house if that's most comfortable? I'm free tomorrow afternoon if that works for you both."
Stella let out a quiet sigh of relief; palliative care could help. "I usually finish work at five, but I can probably be at the apartment by three o'clock if that's okay?"
"I'll put it in my calendar now. Do we have your address on file?"
"Yes, I think so. I wrote it on those forms when we first came in."
"Perfect. I will see you tomorrow at three o'clock."
To Be Continued…
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