"I just wanted to apologise…"
Kim Burgess standing at the table of Fifty-One was the last thing that Upton expected to see right now. Also, the last thing she wanted to see, despite their rapport and almost-friendship.
"Adam had too much to drink, already," she elaborated, "and I just wanted to let you know that we're leaving now."
"Kim, you have nothing to apologise for," Upton told her honestly, hating the nervous itch that she felt.
"No, he does," Severide spoke up suddenly, surprising them all. "Bein' drunk is one thing, talking about his team member like that is another."
"Kelly, I don't want him to apologise," Upton said softly, curling into Foster subconsciously.
"No, Hailey. I know, and I get it," Severide said, calming slightly from Kidd's pat on his leg, taking the note. "Burgess, just maybe let your boyfriend to know to be less of a douche the next time we're all out together," he breathed, fighting hard to keep his calm.
"Will do," Burgess nodded. "Already done, in fact. Hailey, I really am sorry. You looked great," she said sincerely, hoping that it would get through to her friend. "You shouldn't have to worry about how you look because of any guy, let alone a drunk idiot like Ruzek."
Upton actually smiled. She needed the reaffirmation that he wouldn't be defended, even by his girlfriend.
"Thanks, Kim. And again, you have nothing to be sorry for. He was as rude to you as he was to me, really," Upton nodded, feeling Foster's arm tighten across her waist comfortingly.
"Yeah, that's a whole other bag of worms that we'll talk about. When he's sober enough to remember how pissed I am," Burgess rolled her eyes and smiled. "But goodnight, guys. I hope you can all enjoy yourselves now, and Happy Halloween." She nodded politely once more before heading to the exit, dragging Ruzek by his sleeve.
"You okay?" Foster asked softly, knowing all of the eyes at the table were on them and trying to keep quiet.
"I'm good," Upton smiled sincerely, bumping her head against Foster's in a weak attempt at affection. "I kinda still want to drink more…" she smirked with a shrug.
"I got this," Foster grinned widely, squeezing Upton's side once more before standing. "Thirsty?" she asked, only to be happily whooped and hollered at in agreement from her friends.
"I'll come with you. This seems like a tray full of drinks sort of situation," Casey chuckled, standing as well.
"I'll be right back," Foster smiled into Upton's eyes, lacing their fingers briefly before stepping away.
"You feel better now?" Brett asked innocently. "I wish I had been smart enough to bring a change of clothes," she shrugged at her red coat and shook it off.
"I feel much better, thank you," Upton said, appreciating the woman's sincerity.
"Listen, I feel for you all but I'm wearing a freakin' skirt!" Severide piped up, finishing off his drink.
"Now you know how women feel, all the time," Kidd shrugged, not sympathetic. "You should just be glad I didn't make you wear heels."
XXX
"So, I have a question," Casey said nervously, looking around the room as they waited for their tray of drinks.
"Okay…?" Foster said, thinking she had an idea of where this was going.
"You're not dating Upton, right?" he asked, trying like hell to maintain his composure.
Foster choked on the breath that she was inhaling, coughing it out.
"No, we're just friends," she said, coming out sounding just as unbelievable as it felt. "Why?"
"Well, I was thinking, she's cute, right?" Casey shrugged, watching the emotion change in Foster's eyes. "I mean, if you're not gonna go for it, maybe I'll ask her out?" he suggested, looking at Foster and then quickly away. "Do you think she'd go for someone like me?" he concluded, looking at the ground sheepishly.
Foster felt the warmth of anger and jealousy rising up through her. From her spine, through her gut, and traveling the whole way to her brain, stirring an emotion in her that she was certain she had never felt before. Most times, she could keep herself in check; this was her Captain, after all, and she was to treat him with the utmost respect. But now…
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" Foster nearly yelled. "Would she go for you?! No, she wouldn't go for you! And the fact that you even have the nerve to ask me that, after the night she's had…"
Casey biting back a laugh threw Foster out of her tirade; threw her off entirely, because what the hell was he laughing at?
"You think this is funny?" she spat, fighting the urge to push him, hard. "What the hell are you laughing about?!"
"Um…" Casey cleared his throat, looking at the ground again, truly scared of the look in Foster's eyes. "I'm laughing because Sylvie told me to ask you that…" he admitted nervously, swigging a shot of whisky before finding the balls to look at Foster again. "To see how you'd react."
Foster let out a huge breath that she didn't know she was holding, pushing Casey by both of his shoulders.
"You gotta be kidding me," she said, under her breath, unable to fight the smile she felt as Casey acted nervous and uncomfortable. "You know that's not funny, right?" she asked, though she chuckled as she said it.
"It was kind of funny," he defended. "I guess we have our answer now…"
"Oh, 'we?', Matt? Are you and Sylvie a 'we' now?" she asked, raising an eyebrow, happy to flip the situation.
"I didn't say…" he choked out, picking up a beer and swilling it.
"For you to do that to me, that's gotta mean something, right?" she questioned, swilling her own beer.
He didn't have an answer, shrugging nervously as he took another drink of his beer.
"And I know you were kidding, but I'm watchin' you now," she warned with a warm smile on her face, poking him in the shoulder. "If you EVER ask her out, or even look at her wrong…"
Casey burst out laughing, pulling Foster into a loving, brotherly embrace.
"You know I'd never do that to you," he said, shaking her by the shoulder.
"Because you have someone else on your mind?" Foster didn't keep herself from asking.
"Because I would never do that to you," he repeated with resolve before turning his eyes away. "But yeah, I do."
XXX
