The Night Before – Chapter 2

The Morning Before

(Brettsey – Chicago Fire)

*Purely for entertainment* *Song lyrics from "Such Great Heights" Cover version by Iron and Wine * *I do not own the rights to these characters or the song*

Sylvie wasn't sure how she was still on her feet at this point. After the sleepless night she had, that huge realization, and the response she received from Casey, it was only the years of experience in the firehouse taking over that gave her the strength to get out of her uniform and into her regular sweater and jeans ensemble.

Casey couldn't help himself. He watched her as she sat on the bench in front of her locker. Not that Sylvie was a prude by any means, but she usually changed in one of the more private areas, so seeing her sit there slowly raising the material higher and higher with her exhausted arms caused his thoughts to go everywhere and his eyebrows to shoot up. He is a man after all, so it was no surprise that his first thought came from a more primal place within him. The second, however, came from a place of wonder wherein he was still processing what was said the night before. Was this her way of teasing him? Did she know just how intriguing the raising of a shirt hem could be for him? Perhaps a little glimpse of the more that he promised her? Then he noticed how she struggled with it as she brought it up, and it finally dawned on him how well they knew each other. He doubted anyone else in the room would notice such a subtle thing, how her eyebrows furrowed as she sighed and he knew she was frustrated, and if he had the courage he would have walked over then and there and helped her with her small conundrum.

"You okay there, Casey?" Herrmann's voice brought him out of his reverie, and he blinked as he saw the seasoned firefighter with the heart of gold smiling at him.

"Uh, yeah. Fine." He cleared his throat. "Just thinking."

"Uh-huh. Thinking you say?" Herrmann bit his lip, looking between Casey and Sylvie. He gave Casey a rather knowing look and grinned his boyish grin before tapping on the locker in front of Casey and turned towards his own locker. "Don't think too hard there, Captain. Too much thinking, that's not too good for the heart ya know?"

Casey wasn't sure how to respond to that. "What are you getting at Herman?"

Herrmann leaned in, took a quick glance around before whispering, "I see the way you've been looking at her, and let's just say you two weren't the only ones who couldn't sleep last night." He winked and turned back towards his locker once more. Before Casey could even respond, Herrmann was addressing the entire room in his usual manner. "So, who's coming to Molly's tonight?"

Mumbled no's and heads shaking spread throughout the room. "Oh, come on! The whole point of having a place for firefighters and first responders to hang out is if the firefighters and first responders actually show up!"

"Yeah, well some of us have other things to do, Herrmann!" "Not me." "Can't tonight buddy, sorry!"

"Sorry, man We've got other plans." Kelly smiled proudly as Stella wrapped her arms around him, heading towards the exit together.

"Kidd! Come on, I need you! They keep asking for your fancy drinks!"

"You'll figure it out." And with that they were around the corner, Kelly shooting back a huge grin and classic shoulder shrug.

Cruz walked up and patted Herrmann's shoulder. "Don't worry Herrmann, Chloe's at her parents' tonight so I'll be there. And you know Mouch will be." Mouch just nodded in agreement as he packed his bag.

"Of course Mouch will be there, but what do I have to do to get you guys to come more often?"

"Herrmann, I've never been to Molly's without seeing someone from this crew there." Sylvie chimed in sweetly.

"I don't count! But you're right. I just like knowing you guys will be there. Molly's Patio is working out, but I still need to keep my regulars coming in. That's you guys."

"Just because we're not there one night doesn't mean we've given up on Molly's." Sylvie stated calmly, ever the voice of reason.

Hermann was defeated. How could he argue with that? "Alright, you have a point. So what big plans do you have then Casey?" Hermann looked over his shoulder to see Sylvie turned back towards her locker, not knowing she was listening very acutely for Casey's answer, and he took the opportunity to elbow Casey right in the stomach and swung his head dramatically in Sylvie's direction. Casey's initial shock turned into amusement as he saw what Herrmann was getting at.

"I'm sure I can come up with something." Casey answered trying to hold back a laugh, but he couldn't help but watch Sylvie as she began to pack her bag, finally having changed. He was excited for the possibility of what may come, but his heart was crying out to walk over towards her and take her home. Not for what others may think. He saw how slow her movements were and all he wanted to do was wrap her up and drive her home, carry her into her apartment, and curl up with her while they slept the day away.

That was the most surprising thing he discovered about being in love with Sylvie. It was so different from any other kind of love he had felt before. His past relationships were beautiful and fulfilling in their own ways. With Sylvie, it wasn't purely about the passion he felt and knew they would have together. It was deeper and came from a place he wasn't aware was within him. She came first, always. He didn't just want to love her, he felt a deep longing to take care of her. Not because she needed to be taken care of, but because she would allow him to. It was the first time in his life he could see everything laid out so clearly in front of him. The only other time something felt so right and so sure was when he knew he wanted to be a fireman. How could he deny it? It was right. Yet, there was still a part of him that almost couldn't believe that she had confirmed all his hopes. She loves him. So why was he still standing there, and not walking over to her? He cleared his throat and finished gathering his bag.

Herrmann laughed once more and began heading towards the door behind Cruz and Mouch. "Well, if either of you decides to show up, I'll be saving a beer for ya."

Sylvie looked up and noticed that it was just her and Casey left in the room. "I thought we would never get rid of them." She giggled, and Casey was already by her side before she could close her door.

Casey leaned over and took her jacket from her hands, holding it open, and helped her put it on. He brushed her hair out of the collar and turned her back around to face him. She smiled as he began rubbing circles into her arms with his thumbs. She placed her hands on his chest and leaned in content to feel the warmth and tried not to close her eyes for fear she would fall asleep right there in his arms. Not that he would mind, of course.

"Now that they are gone, I wanted to ask…" he began but paused as he looked into her eyes. He could see how her eyelids were struggling to stay open. He reached up and placed his hand on her cheek.

"Yes?" she asked.

"After I drive you home this morning, can I come back this evening?"

"I would like that very much." She leaned in to kiss him, and he responded in kind. How sweet it was, tired lips trying to form the kiss.

They reluctantly let go of one another as the next shift could be heard down the hall heading towards the locker room. He reached down and picked up both of their bags.

"Ooh, such a gentleman." She joked, and he laughed but felt a swell of pride within himself. He would do anything for her. "Thank you." She said softly.

"Don't thank me yet." He quipped. "You can thank me after we get some hot chocolate and a donut on the way home."

"Yes! Yes. Hot chocolate and a donut sounds perfect." She nudged him with her shoulder as they headed down the hallway, passing familiar strangers from the next shift's crew.

Home, they both secretly thought. How right it sounded when he said it. Here they are, barely begun, but a word as simple and profound as home suggested so much more. In a flash they could see the years ahead in which one or the other would be saying it over and over again. They could be each other's homes and build one together. The future is always uncertain, but when it came to these two home was indeed the only word for it.

Casey opened her door for her, and Sylvie settled herself in while he placed the bags in the back of the truck and came around to the driver's side. She smiled when he got in and immediately grabbed her hand and intertwined their fingers.

"Ready?" he asked her.

"So ready."

With that, the truck was started, and neither knew just how powerful the night ahead of them would be. The radio played soft acoustic music as they drove towards hot chocolate and home.

"I am thinking it's a sign, that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images, and when we kiss they're perfectly aligned / And I have to speculate, that God Himself did make us into corresponding shapes, like puzzle pieces from the clay / And true it may seem like a stretch, but it's thoughts like this that catch my troubled head when you're away, and when I am missing you to death / And when you are out there on the road for several weeks of shows, and when you scan the radio, I hope this song will guide you home / They will see us waving from such great heights, "Come down now" they'll say, but everything looks perfect from far away, "Come down now" but we'll stay..."

At least one more chapter to come, from then we'll see, so stay tuned!