Alexandra sat outside firehouse 51 watching as second watch was coming onto shift. The past 6 months have been some of the most emotional and painful months she had ever experienced. The backseat of her car was full of her belongings and memories.
She left North Carolina and didn't even look back. She left some unfinished business there but didn't care she had to get out. She had to go home. Go home to the only family she ever had.
Alex didn't know how long she had been sitting outside of 51 but knew if she didn't do this now, she never would. "Here goes nothing." Alex took a deep breath before stepping out of her 2016 blacked out hellcat Charger.
Alex zipped up her black leather jacket as a gust of wind hit her. She hadn't forgotten how cruel and cold Chicago winters could be. She walked up the driveway of firehouse 51 and opened the side door. She stepped onto the apparatus floor and there all the trucks sat, waiting for whatever today would bring.
The floor was empty but it was still early so everyone was probably grabbing breakfast. Alex made her way through the double doors, the laughter and chatter coming from the common room bringing a smile to her face.
Alex made it a few steps inside the common room before someone noticed her. "Do my eyes deceive me?" An older gentleman with gray hair said as he stared directly at Alex.
Everyone looked to the doorway to see who the man was asking about. "Alexandra Jean Hermann is that you?"
"Hey uncle Hermann." Alex felt very small and nervous about seeing everyone again. She had left a lot of people in Chicago when she moved to North Carolina 5 years ago.
Hermann walked over to his niece and embraced her in a hug. "It's so good to see you sweetheart."
"Good to see you too." The embrace from her uncle made some of her worries disappear.
"Now let me get a good look at you." Hermann held her out at arms length and took in her appearance. "You look like you need to eat."
Alex couldn't help but laugh. She had always been on the smaller side. "Alright Hermann let the rest of us say hello."
"Alright alright." Hermann took a few steps back.
"Uncle Mouch."
"Hey small fry." The two of them exchanged a hug.
Next up was Matthew Casey who was like an older brother to Alex. She tried to fight the tears back as Matt engulfed her in one of his bone crushing hugs. "Welcome home."
"Thanks Matt."
Next was Chief Boden, then Cruz, Otis, Capp and Tony. Everyone else wasn't anyone Alex recognized. Matt took on the roll of introducing everyone else.
"This is Stella Kidd she is on truck 81, Sylvie Brett ambulance 61, and my fiancé Gabby Dawson PIC on 61."
Alex said hello to everyone.
"Guys this is Alexandra Hermann, she use to ride on ambulance 61 with... with Shay." Hermann had called Alex when Shay had died but couldn't make it home. She tried but she couldn't leave NC.
You could still feel the impact Shay had on firehouse 51. Everyone fell a little silent when her name was mentioned. Alex wanted to try and shake the sudden sadness that was in the room. "It's nice to meet everyone." Everyone said hello and shook her hand.
Everyone then goes back to eating their breakfast and chatting. "So how long you in town for kid?"
"Not sure yet. Figured a few weeks at the least. Maybe even try to move back."
Hermann looked at her curiously "How's Mason feel about that?"
"He doesn't mind."
"Well that's good. It will be nice having you guys live here. The little apartment above our garage is all yours till you guys get settled. Cindy will be happy to see you too."
"Thanks Uncle Hermann." The two of them exchanged a hug before he went to get some breakfast.
Alex was standing against one of the counters looking around for someone. Someone who she thought would be there. Matt walked over and leaned close to Alex so only she could hear. "He's in his office." Alex and Matt locked eyes and she nodded.
She waited a few minutes before leaving the common room and making her way down the hallway. She stopped at the wall with pictures, where she saw Andy and Shay's photos. "I miss you guys." She stood there for a minute and then continued on down the hallway. When she entered the service quarters, she could see a light on in one of officers quarters.
Alex made her way back and stopped just as she reached the door. There sat her childhood best friend, Kelly Severide. Alex raised her fist and knocked lightly on the door.
He didn't look up but just said it's open. Alex took a deep breath before opening the door and stepping inside, closing the door behind her. Kelly looked up when he heard the door close, his blue eyes locking with her green ones. Her light brown wavy hair fitting perfectly around her face. His hair was almost completely grey which made Alex giggle on the inside.
"Lex?" Kelly was in shock. He didn't believe she was actually there, standing in front of him in his office.
"Hey Kel." Her voice cracked as she tried to contain her emotions. Kelly jumped up from his seat and embraced his childhood best friend in a hug. Alex wrapped her arms around him and took in his familiar scent. A smell that would easy any anxiety or pain she was feeling.
Kelly rested his chin on top of her head, taking in the smell of her strawberry shampoo. "When did you get back?" He closed his eyes as the feeling of Alex back in his arms meant everything.
Alex was not letting go of Kelly either. "Less than 10 minutes ago." All the love she had received since walking back into 51 was almost overwhelming as she hadn't felt this loved in years.
Beep Beep
Truck 81 Squad 3 Ambulance 61 Car wreck 30th and Lincoln
"Stay here. Do not leave. Okay?"
Alex nodded her head as Kelly gave her one final squeeze before running out of his office. Her eyes followed him until he was out of sight. She then laid down on his bunk and closed her eyes. Remembering how things were before she left.
Kelly and her had this friends with benefits thing that went on up until she moved. They never admitted it to one another but they had always wanted more. They were both too scared to say anything or try to be a couple. Timing never seemed right anytime they would even get close to dating.
The one time Alex had tried to say something, Kelly became very dismissive and acted as if she was just another one of his hookups. Alex felt so used and unimportant in Kelly's life after that.
It was a few months later when she had decided to up and move to North Carolina and not tell anyone.
Chief Boden was the only one who knew but wasn't allowed to say anything. Boden knew Alex needed to leave Chicago. She needed to spread her wings. And if her uncle, Kelly, Andy, Shay, or Matt even caught wind she may leave they would have stopped her.
Alex knew back then what she was doing was going to be hard on everyone, but ever since her dad died everyone became so overprotective. She moved in with her Uncle Hermann and Aunt Cindy when she was just barely 12 years old. Her dad was a firefighter and was Hermann's older brother.
Kelly became overprotective and would tell anyone off that would start teasing her. Alex always had a crush on Kelly but kept the feelings to herself. Then one night Kelly and her got drunk after their first day at the academy. Needless to say they woke up naked together in Alex's bed.
This continued for years up until Alex left. There were times when either one of them had a significant other they would go back to just friends. The one thing neither would do was cheat on the person they were with with each other.
Alex didn't realize that while she was reminiscing she had fallen asleep in Kellys bunk. That was until she felt someone trying to shake her awake. "5 more minutes." She groaned before rolling away from Kelly who just chuckled.
Alex eyes shot open as she remembers she was at firehouse 51 and in Kelly's office. She rolled back over facing her best friend. "Ugh I'm sorry Kelly. I didn't mean to fall asleep."
"It's alright Lex." Kelly motioned for her to move a bit so he could lay down. Once Kelly was comfortable he pulled her down so her head was laying on his chest. He had an arm wrapped around her holding her close, hand resting on her hip.
Alex listened to Kelly's heartbeat and couldn't help but smile. "How was the last call?" She wrapped one of her legs around Kelly's pulling him as close as possible.
"A small house fire nothing crazy. No one was home." Kelly began to drag his fingers lightly against Alex's arm.
"Well that's good." Alex felt a shiver go through her body with Kelly's gentle touch.
"How long you in town for?"
Alex sighed. She knew there was going to be questions once she revealed she was staying and had no intentions of going back to North Carolina. "I'm moving back."
Kelly's hand suddenly stopped unsure if he heard Alex correctly. "What?"
Alex looked up at Kelly's confused face. "I'm coming back to Chicago."
"What about Mason?"
Alex felt a pain in her heart thinking about the heartache Mason had caused her. "I'm leaving him. Kel can we not get into why right now? I just want to enjoy being home and not dwell on the reasons I'm home."
Kelly nodded his head. "Alright but when you're ready I'm all ears."
"Thanks Kel." Alex laid her bad back down on Kelly's chest taking in the sound of his heartbeat again.
"Anytime princess." Kelly squeezed her closer and the two of them fell asleep.
Hermann walked into the rec room after seeing Alex and Kelly were in his office together. Cindy and him always thought they would end up together but then something happened and neither of them knew what.
Mouch was sitting on the couch when he saw Hermann walk in. "Everything okay Hermann?"
"uh I... I don't know..." Hermann took a seat next to Mouch on the couch. "Severide and Alex are in his office together."
Mouch raised an eyebrow. "Okay?"
"Well you remember how things were before Alex left. The two of them were at odds with one another. And now it's as if nothing happened."
Mouch muted the TV and turned to his best friend. "Maybe they made up at some point?"
"Maybe."
"Look Hermann, maybe just be happy that Alex is home and seems happy?"
Hermann sucked in his bottom lip and thought about it for a minute. "Yeah you're probably right. Those two have always had each other's backs."
Mouch couldn't help but laugh. "You remember Casey, Darden, Shay, Severide and small fry were thick as thieves?"
Hermann laughed right along with him. "I do. It's why I always wondered why Alex didn't come back for either Darden's or Shay's funerals."
"She must of had her reasons. I'm sure one day she will tell you."
"Yeah maybe." Hermann begin to rub his hands together as he was thinking. "I'm gonna go call Mason and see what's up."
Hermann got up off the couch. "You sure that's a good idea?"
Hermann stopped to look back at Mouch. "Yeah why not?"
"It's her business Hermann. She's not 12 anymore. You can loosen the reins a bit."
"Yeah I guess your right Mouch. Thanks man."
"Anytime buddy." Hermann left the rec room and Mouch unmuted the TV.
Casey was sitting on the back of 61 while Dawson was doing inventory. "So this Alex girl you and her ever have a thing?"
Casey almost choked on his coffee. "Alex and me?" Casey raised an eyebrow. "No never. That was all Severide. We were just friends. More like brother and sister."
Dawson chuckled. "Why am I not surprised Severide and her were involved."
"Because it's Severide." Both of them laughed. "But with Alex being back maybe she'll come back to 51."
"Isn't she a PIC?"
"Yes but that means we would have a replacement for you if you wanted to join Truck."
Dawson stopped what she was doing and got the biggest smile on her face. "Think Chief would go for it?"
"I don't see why not. I know thats been the biggest issue with you changing over. I'll talk to him about it."
"Thanks Matt."
"Anything for you Gabby." The two exchanged a quick kiss before Casey headed to the Chief's office.
