"So while you were in the shower Carver called me?" Liv said lying on the bed. She looks at Kelly facing away from her at the end of the bed.
"Yeah? What about?" Kelly drops his towel and she is temporarily distracted by hard lines of his body.
"Are you checking me out?" he asked putting on his pants.
"Totally, sorry anyway. He wants me to take a competency exam to prove to the hospital board I haven't lost my chops. If I pass..."
He turned his head to look over his shoulder at her a slow smile creeping across his face. "If you pass you get to be Hot Doc again!" He climbed on the bed and swan dived on top of her. "That's great Baby!" he kissed her.
"I have to pass first!" he blew a raspberry into the crook of her neck. "Kelly!" She laughed.
"You're gonna do fine baby."
"So this teaching job, you into it?" She runs her fingers through his hair.
"Eh, its one course we'll see but I'm all for giving you an anatomy lesson." He wiggles his eyebrows.
She laughs. "Just as a refresher?"
"Of course what kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't help the great Dr. Grayne back into her lab coat? And then back out of it again?"
She snickered. "Insufferable." She runs her thumb across his bottom lip.
"Sensationally sexy," He kisses the pad of her thumb.
"Conceited."
"I was talking about you Olivia." He grins.
"You can't be late for your first day as fire teacher, you need to get dressed." She kissed him.
"Fire Teacher?"
"Is that not the proper terminology?" She shrugs a shoulder.
"I know you don't really want me to get dressed I saw you give me the up down just now."
"Yeah that's true but needs must and all that jazz babe." She slaps his rear.
-/-/-/-
"Well he was not what I was expecting at all..." Jones said lowly to Dawson.
"He's very taken with and by someone its best you keep your eyes and thoughts to yourself. Just friendly advice." Gabi jogged off.
-/-/=/-
First and foremost the most important- "Kelly's phone sang out "Doctor, Doc-"he answers before Gabi's snicker turns into a full laugh.
"Hey Liv," he pauses. "I am but yeah I'll have an hour so come down. No, it's fine. You can do this Liv don't over think it. "He sighed laughing. "No babe they're not gonna make you retake the boards. Alright sounds great-"
"Tell Liv I said hi!" Gabi shouts out/
"Tell her when gets here candidate. No, Dawson. Alright love you too bye."
-/-/-/-
She stares at the aerial ladder with an uneasy familiarity and trepidations dread. Kelly's talking some guy down and she grips the takeout bag from Smoke Daddy's in her hand.
Dawson looks like she's about to walk over but she waves her off with a head nod. Kelly's taking this very serious she won't be getting trouble on Liv's account.
After what feels like an interminable wait Kelly starts climbing down from the demo structure and rig.
"Nice work Jones, Dawson." He compliments.
"But it almost got a little crazy up there huh?" The brunette Liv takes to be Jones said. The flirty manner in which it is said coupled with the fact that Liv's sitting not even five feet from them sets her teeth on edge.
"If I want commentary on the drill I'll ask for it but until the Jones accepts the compliment that's given. No more, no less."`
"Yes Sir."
"Good." Kelly turned to Liv. "Hey baby, what'd you bring me?"
"Smoke Daddy's." She said side eying Jones.
"Not even on my radar" he answered the unspoken question and tries not to smile Liv won't find her own jealousy as sweet and charming as he does. "Let's go eat and I'll quiz you on the bones of the hand or something."
"You can't call them all the "Sexy Bone."
"I'd never…"
"Can I go say Hi to Dawson?"
"Sure that's fine are you sure they aren't all called sexy bones cause…"
She shoves the food at Kelly and goes in the direction where Dawson stands with Jones. "Oh Dear God…" Kelly muttered and walked off before he saw too much.
She rolls up and puts her chair into standing position and hugs Gabi. "Hey." She said normally then kissed Gabi on the cheek. "Brought you Bar-B-Que it's by your locker. I didn't want them to think you were teacher's pet or something." She whispers.
"Hey you really like that thing don't you?" Gabi teased smiling.
"I love it, I randomly give myself stand ovations just to keep Kelly's ego in check." She joked
"The pony tails back does that mean Doc Livvy's back?" Gabi tugged on it.
"Working on it."
"So have you heard from Shay about her new partner?"
She shook her head "No but I heard from Viv who was none too pleased apparently this Rafferty chick is a homophobe and was all don't shove your alternative life style down my throat. So I told Viv to shove her tongue down Shay's throat. My alternative lifestyle would be all up in there but Shay's better than me. Took it on the chin!"
"Olivia Blair I'm hungry stop gossiping with Candidate Dawson." Kelly griped
She rolled her eyes. "Yes master right away sir. Love ya Gab see you at Molly's."
"First healthy girl Beer's on me Liv."
"Holding you too it." She moved her chair to sitting position and began rolling off.
She looked back giving Jones a sharp smile. "Oh it was nice meeting you Candidate Jones hopefully if you maintain focus on the job you'll make a wonderful fire fighter."
"Bitch." Jones mutters as she rolls off.
"Jones that was her being nice to you. She hasn't even shown her teeth yet and she's got em' don't think that just because she's in that chair that she'll be railroaded by anyone because she won't because she is a bitch a damn tough one." Gabi advised.
-/-/=/-/-/-/-
"And this here what's this called?" He kissed her fingertips.
"Distal Phalanges."
He kissed her palm. "This?"
"The palm of my hand." She said smiling.
He smiled into her hand. "I hate to do it babe but, I gotta go." He leaned over and kissed her. When he stood from the table he pulled out her ponytail and looped the tie around his wrist. "You're studying you don't need it." He said walking backwards grinning at her.
"Asshole." She retorted pretending to be irritated before tossing her hair just goad him.
He laughed. "I love you. See you at home." He turned and walked toward his students.
=/=/=/=
Liv's text message tone wakes her from her nap. It's a snap chat of Viv wearing Librarian glasses and serious expression. "How's the studying going?" reads the caption.
She naps a picture of an array of note cards spread out on the bed. "I love E really but one more note card and I'll scream." Is her snappy reply.
Her phone rings. "Where's McFireballs? Why isn't he helping you? Is someone else hot for fire teacher?"
"Think he's working. Oh I know someone's hot for teacher but what matters is someone else is hot for their Doctor so whatever." She answers smiling wolfishly to herself.
"Hun, he's not workin' Les is right next to me so…"
"Les? Ooh it's serious."
"Pretty much."
"I'm getting in my chair to make sure Kelly didn't fall asleep on the couch again."
"Check the shower too!" Viv retorts like she has personal experience.
"Oh My God! Kelly's not asleep on the couch because Katie and Otis are making out on it!" she whispers to ViviAnne.
The door knob turns and they spring apart. Kelly looks at them a second. "Baby I'm home!" he calls out.
"Gotta go!" She hangs up on her sister.
She rolled forward. "Hey."
He leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Take a break from your cram session and come have a beer at Molly's."
"I don't want to put actual clothes on Kelly."
"I dig the Eeyore pants leave em on'. How about you guys? "He gestured to Katie and Otis who made quick excuses to leave. Katie kisses him on the cheek and they hurry out.
He turns to Liv slowly. "What was that?"
"Promise you won't chase down Otis first."
"I tentatively promise." He eyed Liv and the now closed door. She grabbed his belt loop just for added insurance before answering.
"They were kissing."
Kelly's face screws up. Liv laughs. "Baby he's a huge nerd." His tone implies being nerdy is some form of sin.
"I hate to break it you but so is Katie." She said.
"So like is he gonna ask her out now?"
"I don't know but I can tell you this, if he does ask her out you have to let him because if you don't Katie's gonna be pissed."
He stares. "It's a brother sister rule babe. It doesn't mean you can't razz him though. Owen and Lang fed Carver Gummi Bears that gave him the shits. Looking back it was fucking epic."
"They didn't do anything to me." He said suspiciously.
"They like you; I think they suspect you might be my one so they don't screw with you because they fear me." She answered letting go his belt loops.
"Were you serious about the pants?" She inquired.
"Completely. You look hot in anything."
"Thank you but I'll go put on my fleece leggings."
"Good, it is unseasonably cold."
She goes to roll away. "Hey?" he pulls her back and kisses her slow and soft. "Waited all day to do that. You may go now." He grins.
She licks her lips eyes still closed. "What was I doing?" she asks slowly.
"Putting on pants. Your head ok?" he asks concerned but genuinely trying not to laugh.
"I'm fine, you did that."
"I love you so much." He said laughing.
"I know. I need pants."
_/-/-/
She rolls into the fire house in a long sleeve peacock blue crocheted top and jeans her hair is down but the bangs are twisted away from her face. There are random green, blue, turquoise and purple strands in her hair.
"You look about fourteen baby. Not quite sure I dig it." He looks down at her speculatively and then pulls her into his arms.
"Mila and Madden did its chalk, Hair chalk."
"So that's why it looks like a leprechaun gave you a hickey." He brushed at the chalk stain with his thumb. She rolls her eyes before pecking him lightly on the mouth.
"Come on, I got somethin' for ya." He grabbed her hand and pulled her behind him away from the truck bay and into the actual firehouse, "Now, this is was a group effort so according to Katie I can't take full credit. Though should you be overwhelmed with gratitude I will accept all sexual forms of thanks!"
"Kelly Severide! The things that come from your mouth!"
He kissed her. "Last time I checked you liked the mouth and every other part of me. I'll be right back."
Shay walks over and stands next to her. "Would Viv move in with me?"
"Do what?" Kelly walks out of his quarters with a huge gift basket and Erin trailing behind him.
"E!" She shouts they hadn't seen each other in a few weeks.
"O!"She walked over and hugged her friend. "Don't call her O only I call her O." she cuts her eyes at Kelly.
Erin hands her an Ipod "All of the old cram session jams from your MCAT days."
"Ok move so I can put this monstrous basket down." Kelly griped.
"You carried me down an infinity length ladder and that basket's heavy? And yes I remember slightly your ladder training thing triggered something." He put the basket down. He walked over and kissed her soundly on the mouth. "Um and that was for?" She said in confusion.
"You remembered!"
"Please tell me you weren't planning a re enactment?" She said skeptically.
"No. Okay, so we tried to think of everything you'd need for the test. Paper, pens, Hermann kids picked out the highlighters and post its Katie took care of the food. She gave me all these scientific reasons they're good for your brain and test taking but she lost me at Amino acids so I zoned out. Last but not least this is from me."
He hands her a box wrapped in shiny reflective paper. She tears into it and opens the box. Inside is a brand new stethoscope. With red ear pieces, black tubing, and the metal head piece used to hear the heart is covered in flames in middle of it an O is engraved in gold.
"Kelly these are so expensive." She said softly.
"I have every reason to believe you will pass that damn thing and be back in the saddle this time next week."
She looks at him skeptically. "Baby I had a sinus headache Tuesday and you tried to diagnose me with a brain tumor. You are ready to go back." He pulled her closer to him.
"And you really need to go!" Erin said pulling her out of Kelly's grip.
"But-"Liv complained.
"He's handsome and awesome in the sack I'm sure but I need a ride to the 21st and you have your test in fifteen."
Liv looks over at her with a slightly terrified expression. "He's the male you! That's why it's so easy. That's um a revelation." She said glancing between Kelly and Erin.
Erin loops her arm around Liv's shoulders. "That just means he's your best friend."
She says her thank yous and Kelly walks her out.
"Oh wait!" She turns back. "Shay the only way to know if ViviAnne will move in with you is to ask."
"I like the do, its very Cyndi Lauper good luck."
=/=/=/=/=
He leans into the truck window and kisses her. "Good luck. Remember when you hear hoof beats…"
"Think horses not zebras."
He kisses her a last time. "I love you. Bye."
"Love you too Babe. Bye."
-/-/-/-/-
Four hours later.
The door to the class room rips open "I passed I'm reinstated!" She shouts and various people stare at her.
"You're teaching oops I'll come back! It's just I was excited and Chief Bowden told me where to find you."
"It's fine, let's go out in the hall. When do you start?" he starts pulling her to the door.
"Next rotation."
"I told you. Didn't I tell you it'd be fine?"
"Yo Liv! Glad to have the good Doc back at lakeside. That ER is bananas without you!" Gabi called out/
"Thanks Gabi."
"So did she have like a malpractice suit?" Jones asked once they left the room a sly smile crossing her face.
"No a building fell on her you insensitive dumb ass. She was in the Killian Arena collapse." Gabi replied becoming defensive of Liv.
-/-/-/-
"Ok so that first Friday I'm on shift we have Alzheimer's benefit and I know you have to work so I'm gonna solo it but Carver will be there it's a neuro offshoot. If you don't-"Engine 81 Ambulance 61 Squad 3 apartment fire. Corliss Street the intercom interrupts her.
"Go babe. Just come show me your dress first." Kelly answers and kisses then runs for the truck.
-/-/-/-
"I don't care. I don't think she needs to be told it's an empty threat." He states and glances over at Lindsay in the darkened Chief's office
"It's not a very empty threat if you don't want me to know." Liv said from behind them all. She's standing in the chair. Her dress is a dark sapphire blue with a deep diving jeweled neckline. The strapless mermaid style makes her look like Jessica Rabbit. Complete with her red hair slicked back on the sides and flowing down her back. Her green eyes cut to him beneath deep smoky blue shadow. "What don't you want me to know Kelly?" Her watches her raisin purple painted lips move but honest to god can't hear a word.
"You look beautiful." Is his awestruck reply.
"Thank you. You still have to answer the question." She said not giving an inch and crossing her arms over her chest.
"Oh I like this one Severide she's like your Mama. Don't screw it up." Bowden advised with a wide grin.
She turns her attention elsewhere. "Why are you here Erin?" The calm in her voice is a lie.
She tries a different angle. "No I want you to enjoy this little you dazzled the man to the point of stupidity. By the way your rack looks great."
"It's should I can't breathe. Now someone fucking answer the question before my Irish shows. "She said tightly her impatientince growing.
"Someone threatened him." Erin caves.
"It's not a big deal baby, just a punk kid."
She ignores his placating and gives him an unflinching stare. "Threatened you how?"
"Um, they threatened to kill me and it's-"He answers.
"Shut up Kelly!" She snaps and turns to Erin. "How serious is this guy Erin?"
"Two murders that wouldn't stick and assault." She said honestly with kind concern in her eyes.
"Why did you do that now she'll think the worst?" Kelly shouts.
Erin said not looking away from Liv. My friendship has rules and longevity that trump your wants."
Kelly gets the feeling the pair are conversing without words. Huh, he always thought she only did that with him.
Liv sighs and then to Kelly's surprise is totally logical. "You got nothin' till he does something."
"I'm going to put a car outside and one will follow you home. That "I love my firefighter bumper sticker on your truck kinda gives you a target and I'm not comfortable with that."
"Deal. " She nods. "I'm going to change into scrubs and head back to hospital. With looting and no heat we'll have enough to deal with so I'm gonna head back. Power went out at the benefit."
"I've got him." Lindsay promises.
"I know."
Olivia turned to Kelly with a tired smile. "Kelly are my spare scrubs in your locker still?"
"Yeah come on."
-/-/-/-/-
They stand in the shower room.
"I love you Kelly and I love that your first instinct is always to protect me first. It makes me feel very loved but, and listen closely here honey it doesn't mean that you can lie to me by omission. I'm not some delicate flower who will break at any given second. Am I worried, yeah but I trust Erin when she says she's got it." She peers up at him standing behind her.
"Not unless I'm dead or dying are you to know anything that's my rule…" He puts his hands on her shoulders he kisses the top of her head. "It's just because I love you Liv."
She nods. "New rule, tell me about your day. Unzip me please?"
"You really do look beautiful." He kissed the crook of her neck. As he unzipped the dress.
"Always tell me the truth please, I promise I won't fall apart."
"Deal." He brushed his thumb across her bottom lip. "You can't kiss me it's lipstick not a stain; it'll come off on you."
"Watch me." He kissed her. He tugged her hair to tilt her head back.
"Upside down kissing is weird but I like it." She answered and someone giggles.
"If there are kids in here I'm gonna…" He gripes striding to the shower, Kelly whips back the shower curtain to reveal Katie and Otis obviously having just made out. "Oh my God! So gross!" Kelly's expression makes Liv think he actually may throw up.
Liv laughs she can't help it.
"It's not we weren't about too-"Otis sputters beside himself.
"If you want to live you'll shut up Otis."
He closes the shower curtain and goes over and grabs Liv's chair and pushes her into his quarters. She's doubled in half laughing.
"Stop laughing!"
"I can't Kell your face….welcome to siblingdom." She teases.
-/-/-/-
Kelly comes home to find Liv sitting curled on the couch reading a novel and wearing one of his tee shirts. "Hey you waited up for me?"
"Yeah I felt like looking at you before I fell asleep. That shift was fucking madness." She stretches and yawns widely.
"Ah, F bombs musta been bad." He said crossing to her.
"That's putting it mildly."
He picks her up slinging her across his shoulders in a one armed fireman's carry. "Whatcha doin?" She asks in a conversational tone.
"Carrying you to my lair."
"That's not at all creepy babe. Though I do have a spectacular view of your ass this way."
"This a bad time mention I need to fart?" He jokes
"And…you've ruined it."
"You love me."
"Why exactly escapes me at moment." She said dryly as he tosses her to the mattress.
=/-/-/-/-
Kelly's cell ringing wakes them.
"What I'm tired and you woke me up. Otis she's not missing she probably just stood you up she doesn't want to tell you something. Fine I'll go be her moms." He said without opening his eyes. He lays there a moment before getting up.
-/-/-/-
Fifteen minutes later.
She puts Kelly on speaker and continues painting he toenails hot pink. "Baby, I'm starting to worry she didn't come home last night, she's a better kid than I was that's not like her!"
"Kelly I need you to stay calm call her friends and I'll call Erin." She stopped painting and picked up her phone.
"I don't know who her friends are Livvy we're not you and Viv!"
"Call Otis he'll know. Be calm Kell breathe." She advises.
"I don't know any of your friends what makes you think-"
"I'm related to my friends call Otis!"
-/-/-/-
She finds Kelly outside of Katie's work place. "Get in I do not trust you to drive." Liv said. "Otis had Bowden pull strings there's a task force appointed to finding her but she's only been missing 12 hours they have to wait the full 24 to make sure she's not off on a wild hair." She reaches across the truck opening the passenger side door.
"She's not!" Kelly said concretely.
"I know baby but you are still getting in my truck and letting me drive because I can handle one crisis not two Okay?" She said patiently. He gets in.
"Okay. I can't find her Liv. That guy threatened me and I protected you because I thought…" He rambles.
"I make an easier target Kelly there's no way you could have known he'd pick up on Katie. This isn't your fault honey."
"It feels like it is."
"I know. The cops want us to go home in case we're called." She puts the car in drive.
"The guy has some twisted form of morals, he stole my sister who can run but left my disabled girlfriend alone."
She drives a bit then turns. "It's not morals honey its brains. The cop hugged me good bye and you can see how much you love Katie it's what hurts worse. He wanted to hurt you and he has." She said.
"Benny will blame me ya know. That's all Benny's ever given besides the fire….the only thing is my siblings my brothers they're little and Beth keeps her distance because I'm reckless with the things I love just like Benny."
"I love, loved my mom the boys Katie and you that's it… that's all."
"Look at me Kelly!" He stares at her a long second." They will find her. A building fell on me and I forgot you and look where we are now."
"Looking for my sister?"
"No still here."
"That's because you're like Kudzu vine wild and unkillable." He said mostly to himself.
"Thanks I think."
"What do you mean?"
"Kudzu also chokes the life out of everything around it Kelly."
"The non chokey killy kind then." He provides.
"Music? Come on the silence and fear will get to you otherwise, distraction?"
"Why not?" He whispers.
She flips on her radio and an acoustic version of "Everyday People." Pours out. "God bless my Erin and her music I love this song." She turns it up.
-/-
There's a banging on Erin's door.
"I'm coming." She gets the door finding a crying Liv on the other side.
"I'm trying to help him and I can't he hates me I'm too optimistic and if he hadn't been so concerned with me he could have protected Katie. There's a murderer holding his sister hostage and I told him to stay positive. He hates me and I love him so, so much that I hurt." She rambles sniffling and wiping her eyes.
"Oh Honey, come here Livvy." She leaned down and hugged her.
"We'll find her." She pulls Liv inside.
"Promise?"
"Promise."
"Alive?"
"I hope to God. I hope Liv." She closes the door.
"How can I help him?"
"Right now, I'm just helping you. It's what besties do." She offers a smile and gets a weak one out of Liv.
"Wine?"
Cranberry Juice maybe I can trick my mind." Liv replied.
-/-/-/-
They sit on the couch talking and listening to music. "Any Man of Mine." By Shania Twain plays.
"Oh my god Lindsey! This reminds me of that guy who was so into you and come to find out…"
"He just thought I looked like her. I bet he's in jail for stalking."
"You sound bitter E. Line dancing was fun though." Liv smiles for real.
"How the girl with wheels on her ass has better rhythm than me I'll never know."
"God blessed me." She snarked.
There's another knock. "Turn it down that's probably my super."
The door opens. Liv turns down the music.
She is staring down into her cranberry juice when…. "Hey baby,"
Her head snaps up to find Kelly standing at the end of the couch hands stuffed in his pockets.
"Hey." She leaned forward and puts down her juice filled wine glass." Listen I'm sorry if my outlook made you feel your fear is unfounded because it's not I just-"She tries apologizing but he cuts her off.
"You don't want it to eat me alive, I know that and I didn't mean to imply that you haven't been through horrible things because I know you have and I know you see shit in that ER every day that I'd never be able to handle. I know, I know that trying to be positive is your coping mechanism and I'm sorry you are in my line of fire baby, It's just that they won't tell me anything and I don't know what to do." He's on the verge of tears.
"Come here, please." She said.
He picks her up and hugs her. "I'm sorry Kelly, I'm so sorry but we will find her. We will trust me okay?"
"Okay." Kelly said as he cried. "Okay. I can do that." Erin stepped forward like she might be afraid he would drop her friend. "No." Liv mouthed to her over his shoulder.
"It's alright Kell."
"I love you so much; I don't know where I'd be without you."
"Let's never find out okay? Speaking of how'd you find me?"
"Viv said this is where you'd be. She gave me the address."
Lindsay gives the couple a moment of privacy and goes to the kitchen.
He kisses her. "Let's go home Baby."
"Okay."
-/-/-/-
AN: I only own the people in my head and in the story. I hope to write around Katie's disappearance so we'll see how it goes. Thanks for all the favs and reviews please keep em' coming!
-Meg