Severide sighed and looked down at his watch. It had been an hour since Casey had gone out for a run, and even though he was definitely recovering from his injury both himself and Shay were worried he was pushing himself too hard. Severide got up off of the couch and walked over to Shay, who was making a coffee in the kitchen.
'He's been gone for an hour now.'
Shay sighed and leant against the counter with her coffee clutched in her hands.
'I know. We need to talk to him. He's not gonna recover properly if he keeps pushing himself this hard.'
Severide nodded and had opened his mouth to reply when they heard the front door open. They both turned around, to see Casey walk in and shut the door behind him. He grinned at them both as he grabbed a towel from off the back of the couch and made his way through the kitchen towards the fridge. He took out a bottle of water and took a gulp before sitting on a chair next to the counter. His face was red, and his hair was damp and spiked up as he ran a towel over his head.
'Hey guys. Anything planned for today?'
Shay smiled back, and started to talk to Casey about her day. Severide stayed quiet, looking at his friend and trying to decide the best way to approach him about what they had been discussing moments before he had walked in. Severide zoned out, immersed in his own thoughts until Shay elbowed him in the ribs, still somehow managing to keep up the conversation she was having with Casey. Severide cleared his throat, and tried to tune in to the conversation Shay and Casey were having.
'… and then I'm going out with Dawson this evening. There's this new bar a few blocks down we've been wanting to try but haven't got round to doing it yet.'
Casey grinned, and stood up from his chair.
'Sounds like it'll be a fun evening. Right, I'm gonna go take a shower. I have another doctor's appointment this afternoon.'
Shay and Severide glanced at each other, before turning back to face Casey again. Casey noticed this look, and raised his eyebrows slightly at his two friends.
'You look like you want to say something…'
Severide cleared his throat again, thinking carefully about his next words.
'Isn't it a bit soon. I mean, you had an appointment last week.'
Casey shrugged, as he made his way around Severide and started walking towards his room.
'Yeah, but last week the doc said I was close to being cleared for active duty, so I thought if I worked a bit harder this week I would be ready by today. And I am so much fitter now. I reckon I'm ready to get back to work.'
Severide sighed and called after Casey.
'We just don't want you to overdo it bud.'
Casey stopped with his back to his friends, and both Shay and Severide saw his shoulders tense. Severide looked at Shay, and jolted his head towards Casey, trying to get her to diffuse the tense conversation.
'Yeah, I mean… recovery takes time and it can take even longer if you are pushing yourself too hard.'
'Shay's right Case, it might be too soon for another doctor's appointment… if you didn't pass last week I don't think you will have improved much by today.'
Casey was still turned away from Shay and Severide, the room was filled with an awkward silence before Casey turned around slowly. He was still smiling, but both Shay and Severide could tell from how tense he was that he was annoyed.
'I'm fine guys, really. I know my limits and I'm not pushing myself too hard.'
Casey made to go into his room, but Severide walked forward and grabbed his arm.
'Case, you just went for a run, were gone for an hour and now you're gonna go do all these tests at the doctors. You're gonna wear yourself out, and you'll be too tired to be cleared for active duty.'
Casey shook his arm free from Severide's grip and glared at him.
'Well, thanks for your concern but if you'll excuse me, I have to go get ready to go get ready for my appointment.'
Severide sighed as Casey stormed away towards his room.
'Casey, wait… come on man. We're just trying to…'
Severide didn't manage to finish his sentence before Casey's bedroom door had been slammed shut. Severide stood still for a second, before turning around to face Shay. Shay grimaced before walking over to Severide.
'Well… we knew that conversation wasn't gonna be easy.'
Severide shook his head, running his hand over his face.
'I know. I just hoped we might get through to him.'
Shay nodded and patted his arm before making her way towards the living room.
'We said what we had to. Maybe he just needs time to think about it'
Shay stretched out as she placed her phone down in front of her for the first time in hours. Dawson had called earlier, to say she was sick and wasn't going to be able to make the girls night out they had planned. That phone call had gone on for a long time, and Shay hadn't moved from her very comfortable position on the couch, so the apartment was almost completely dark. Casey had left for his doctor's appointment hours ago, and Severide had left not long after, muttering something about going to meet up with Boden and Herrmann. Shay was about to get up off the couch when she heard the front door open, and then jumped slightly as it was slammed shut loudly. She watched Casey storm through the apartment, straight to his room before slamming his door with so much force she was surprised it didn't come off it's hinges. Shay sat frozen, trying to figure out what was wrong. She sighed as she realised that it probably meant his doctor's appointment hadn't gone as he had wanted it to. As she considered whether she should give him space or go check on him, she heard a loud crash come from his room, followed by lots of cursing and yelling. Shay grabbed her phone and rang Severide's number as fast as she could, and was relieved when he picked up almost straight away.
'Hey, you alright? I thought you had girls night this evening'.
'We didn't go out in the end, Dawson phoned saying she was sick. Listen, you need to get back here right now. Casey just got back and he is not doing too good, if you can't tell by the yelling and cursing coming from his bedroom.'
'Ah, shit… okay. I'll be home in 10.'
Shay put down her phone and stood up quietly. The yelling had stopped, and as she made her way towards Casey's room she could hear muffled sobs coming from behind the closed door. She took a deep breathe, and knocked softly on his bedroom door.
'Hey Casey, you alright in there?'
She listened intently, but got no response as the sobbing continued.
'Okay. Can I come in?'
Again there was no response. Shay waited a few more seconds, before she eased the door open and stepped into the room.
