Hi! For those of you who are still with me on this story. Thank you. There are so many others on this site and you chose mine. I don't take that lightly. Especially as I am thoroughly messing with canon. Dawseride is my OTP at this point. And it will never happen. Hence this story and the others that are percolating in my brain.

Below is the 4th of July cookout that Sev pleaded with Bri to attend together as a couple. Let's see what all they do with that...

Dawson was aware that she could be pushy. That sometimes her mouth got the best of her, especially if some stuck-up bitch took an attitude with her in the wrong moment. It used to be, in high school, she'd just slap a girl to the floor and wait for her to get up, to cry to the teacher about mean mean Gabriella and the teacher would turn up her nose, put her in detention, tell her to behave, be a good girl, call her mother. Then she'd tell her mother the truth, the girl had called her a wetback, a slut, any synonym for dirty and she knew the teacher would do nothing. Say words can't hurt you. Which was complete and utter bullshit. She'd figured that out when she was eight and all alone when Antonio transferred to middle school and she'd had to take care of herself during recess. Her mother would sigh, yell at her father to come take care of his daughter and she'd tuned them both out. She'd watched Antonio shadowbox in his bedroom. Ready to take care of anyone who came at him and one day demanded he teach her how. Really, it was a wonder she'd stopped at slaps on the playground but no one had ever accused Dawson of stupidity. She knew the rules were different for boys.

So she'd cultivated a front, sweet and charming and perfectly amiable with a side of cut eye that kept the teenage boys drooling. More often than not she was angry behind her pasted smile. Scratch that, she was furious and way too honest and her front became a part of who she was, the sugar sweet snarky and perky exterior becoming not so much exterior as ancillary to the hot-blooded, Latina stereotype she hated to become when things popped off. Which they did regularly when you were one of three Hispanic kids in school. Which was why she was trying to stay calm, holding a hot dish in the midday sun while Heather proceeded to be cool and distant to Kelly.

She told herself several things to stay calm.

One. She was holding delicious food that all her firefighter friends would welcome… especially if Cruz was cooking.

Two. Dawson was wearing a light grey cotton dress in deference to the hot day, her hair pulled up in wavy curls because humidity, bright gold hoop earrings swinging from each ear. Point being. She looked damn cute. There was no need to get bloody.

Three. The children. The actual literal children as Kelly looked at the boys like they were priceless, swarming between Casey's and their mother's legs. Who turned to Casey for guidance.

Which brought her to the next problem with losing her temper. The utter look of contempt and disgust that was all over Casey's face. Again. He was trying to hide it. Trying to be polite and sweet to the Darden boys while looking between her and Kelly and not saying a damn thing to defend a fellow firefighter and oh my god if she had known the feud between these two was about shit neither of them could change and this woman was the litmus test for all their interactions. No. Just no. They were better than this. All of them.

"Casey. Could you take this food to wherever it's being set up? Kelly and I got here awhile ago and I don't want it to get cold."

Her tone was pointed. Her choice of names making it clear who she stood with. Her heart pounded because this was still Casey and she was so very very angry. So disappointed in the way he allowed Heather to treat Kelly like he hadn't loved Andy like the rest of them. Dawson put the glass dish in Casey's hands with orders not to break it. He gave her a speaking look. A wide-eyed glance that said: are you fucking kidding me?! She wasn't of course, about any of it. The dish or Kelly and she wasn't going to react to his look but when Heather suggested he take the boys with him, she rolled her neck so fast there was a twinge that made her face flinch almost violently with rage.

"I really do think Griffin should at least say hi to his godfather. Don't you Heather?"

Her voice was poison sweet. They all knew it and Kelly's hand on her lower back thanked her in ways she couldn't begin to quantify. She watched Casey glance at Kelly's hand, then back to her face. His lips tightened. Dawson swallowed. Heather stumbled to say anything that would get her what she wanted but Dawson sent Casey off without another word. She had at least that much clout with him still, then she turned to Griffin with a firm smile. He was a child but he was not a little kid and she wouldn't treat him like one.

"My name's Gabi. I was friends with your dad. I work with Casey and this big idiot over here" she placed a hand on Kelly's back to draw him closer. "One of you needs to say hi to the other." She didn't think she could sugarcoat the moment for these two. Griffin's hands were stuffed in his jeans' pockets and he was blinking upwards with a frown.

"Hi Uncle Kelly," Griffin's voice was quiet and sullen. He was no doubt smart enough to intuit his mother's distrust of Kelly and torn between loyalties. That was fine as long as Kelly got what he needed in Dawson's opinion.

"Hey Griffin. Hey Ben" She watched him ruffle the younger boy's hair gently and saw the shy smile the kid gave at not being ignored.

"Hi Uncle Kelly!" Ben said with more enthusiasm.

"Can I get a hug?"

Dawson's heart melted clear out of her chest when Kelly bent to pick up the younger boy and squeeze him so hard he laughed. Her eyes cut to Heather now that goal one was accomplished. She walked over while Kelly continued to chat with Ben, drawing Griffin slowly into the conversation. All three of their eyes turned to Dawson and Heather. Dawson smiled back. She didn't need to look directly at the woman to say her piece.

"I don't care what your beef is with Kelly. Stow it. He loved your husband. He loves your sons and if you think blaming him and not Casey makes sense allow me to explain the definition of hypocritical."

Oh damn. There she was being blunt instead of sweet and polite again. Oh well. She really really didn't like Heather for so many reasons, some of them personal. She was clearly using Casey as a substitute for her own husband, and if Dawson had been in a different place, if she was here at the cookout alone and not with Kelly, she admitted it. She would be jealous. Green with it. No wait, that was envy. Which also worked. But she wasn't and Kelly, sweet cocky Kelly looked so damn happy being a little kid with the kids of his childhood best friend she couldn't understand the distance. Kelly was many inappropriate things but always good to his friends. She knew he was loyal and would take care of Andy's kids in whatever way Heather needed if she asked. And she said as much, scathingly while the blonde woman watched her boys.

"I don't owe you a thing" Heather said and Dawson closed her eyes for a minute. She was not going to commit assault at the firehouse cookout. She just wasn't. Truck and Squad hadn't swarmed them yet but it would happen that much faster if she slapped Heather. What a horrible debut that would be for her and Kelly.

"You owe Andy more than insulting the one person who knew him better than you." you bitch she said with her head still turned to the Darden boys and Kelly roughhousing on the grass. Kelly looked up and she gave him the tooth tipped grin that always looked a little manic when she was angry and about to hurt someone. Kelly scrambled to stand up with Ben still in his arms, his eyes glancing between her and Heather like a ping pong ball.

"We're fine Kelly. Why don't you keep playing with the boys? Go find Casey if you want." She hugged Heather to her with a wide open smile. "Me and Heather need to keep talking".

"No, we really don't, Gabi" hissed Heather as she pulled away from Dawson's grasp.

There was a sneer in Heather's voice that put Dawson on notice. The sound of her childhood calling back through all the years to tell her she was still a wetback, a slut, dirty. She didn't listen. Mostly. Her eyes were still focused on Kelly who was half looking at her but playing with Ben. It was enough to make her keep pushing.

"You will give that man more than five minutes with your sons".

"Or what? They're my kids. I get to decide who they interact with. Kelly's the reason my husband is dead. They don't need to know him."

Dawson didn't argue the first point because she couldn't. It was obvious and tired. Heather was raising her voice and other people were looking. Dawson didn't much notice as the flush of anger, began rising up the back of her neck like heat. Of all the absurd and asinine accusations Heather could have used as a legitimate excuse, it was hearing her blame Kelly out loud that sent Dawson skyrocketing out of her slow seething rage.

"Are you out of your fucking min- "

Later, Dawson relaxed into Kelly's side as he kissed her hair and murmured thank you yet again. She was sipping beer from a solo cup trying not to smile too much. He kept taking it back until finally she let him have it so he could do something with his hands besides hold her. So far Heather was the only bit of drama in today's excursion. So far. Dawson's thoughts went dark for a minute. She'd called Dawson a nosy firehouse whore who should mind her own business and Kelly had run over just in time to rescue the smaller woman from a slap heard around the world by hugging and tossing Dawson over his shoulder. She'd shrieked with indignation. She'd glared at Heather and yelled at Kelly about his leg, and he responded by resting his hand on her butt while she leaned into the smell of him. Like it was old times. Old times being that first night, and how delicate he'd made her feel, carrying her without getting winded.

Kelly had carried her like that all the way over to where Truck and Squad were sitting on some picnic benches. Otis had taken one look at her and Kelly and his eyes had gone so wide it was hilarious. Hermann coughed his beer up. Cruz slapped his back until Hermann cuffed him. Kelly had tossed her right side up, assured her no one had looked up her dress, and kissed her senseless before tucking Dawson into his side with a grin for everyone. Jaws dropped and several mouths stayed open catching flies. Any questions? he'd said, the smug asshole but she couldn't be too mad. He'd saved her from the indignity of a catfight when they both knew she could throw a punch. The man was fast. How'd he run over so quickly?

Hermann had pulled her aside to assure her Truck would deal with the Squad lieutenant if he ever hurt her and Mills… Mills gave his nervous smile but seemed to take it in stride and began a conversation with Kelly about rescue tactics that she assumed meant the two of them were good. The men of Firehouse 51 seemed to take their relationship in stride and Dawson was grateful. They were all such good men. Such great people to work with and awesome friends. Casey though…

She kept scanning the park for him but couldn't see him and assumed Heather had found him and told her side of their brief and lame altercation. It made her nervous on one level. The level where she cared about Casey's opinion and wanted him to understand her point of view, just like in high school when she wanted the teacher to take her side but never did.

Kelly never strayed far from her side. She was currently fixing their plates so they could sit down and eat somewhere and he was chatting with Mouch across the table from her. Explaining something about his PT's office and maybe Mouch should go for his back. Mouch was nodding but also looking between the two of them like they were a puzzle he couldn't figure out. She wanted to tell him good luck, and to give her the answer if he ever found it. Most days she was still astounded by where she'd ended up but too happy besides. She knew Kelly was sticking close because she was the anxious one of their duo. Heather had already called her a firehouse whore fucking a manwhore and she didn't doubt others would think the same. She wanted Kelly's armor along with her own and he gave it willingly, almost absentmindedly. Reaching for her when she walked too far away. His hand in hers, giving the quiet reassuring squeeze that had become their Morse code.

When Shay finally showed up she did a double-take that Dawson ignored in favour of smiling at the girl beside her who could only be Angie. With her was Lieutenant Campbell and another young man who looked nervous as hell. Dawson smiled wider. It was just like Shay to help Campbell out and she offered the plates of food she's just made to each man as her warm greeting before they wandered off to a picnic table. Dawson said hi to Angie and finally to Shay, picking up two new plates because one glance had told her Kelly was not pleased to miss out on her cooking and she had to stifle a laugh at his face.

"Where's Casey?" Shay asked.

"Off with Heather and the Darden boys I think. How'd you get Campbell to show?"

Dawson gave Shay a quick glance before turning back to the food and piling Kelly's plate high with her rice and some ribs and she knew he had to eat something green but…

"I told him it didn't matter to 51. He helped us out. I think officially he's being moved to arson investigation and a desk job now but it still sucks. He didn't want to leave fire suppression"

"They never do," Dawson countered. That would have been Kelly if his leg had healed badly. The brass would have given him something cushy and easy because he was Benny Severide's kid and so smart. Speaking of which,

"Benny never came to visit Kelly, did he?"

It was an abrupt change in topic but Shay had opened the conversation with Casey and Dawson was all about discussing things on her own terms at the moment. She brought up Kelly because that's who Shay was really worried about and she worried too. He had said nothing about his father and knew that both his absence and presence chafed Kelly. But when your son falls three storeys, has a protracted injury recovery and finally makes it back on shift. You should probably do more than call.

"No. He didn't. Dawson…"

"We seriously don't need to rehash that last conversation".

The one that had hurt. The one where Shay had warned her about Kelly and his ways like she hadn't been telling Dawson stories for years and did she want to destroy the possibility of Casey by dallying openly with Severide. It had made her face burn. It had made her think about how she'd always been on the backburner with Casey until recently in their friendship. How Shay was implying that Kelly was the same thing for her. A backburner fling until Casey got his shit together. She'd wrestled with that logic early on in her, what did you call this, situation with Kelly. How he was completely aware of her attraction to Casey. How she might have unconsciously compared them to each other at first. It was so easy to see just him now. See how his cockiness was a front because of all the comparisons people made between the lieutenants. How he played off Casey's straight man schtick if you used Otis' comedy language and how, on some level, he figured all he was really good for was amazing sex. She had cleaned the bar within an inch of its historic Chicago life after their escapades on each and every surface. His new spot when she worked a bar shift was always down by that side of the bartop, his fingers tracing patterns in the condensation from his beer on the dark wood. He'd look at her while he did it and she'd remember everything and want to take five minutes alone in the stockroom but couldn't.

"D?"

Shit, she'd been daydreaming again. Dawson was doing that a lot more lately and she gave Kelly a smile with the plate she'd been holding dumbly in one hand. He kissed her forehead.

"Are we ever gonna eat? Come on"

They both turned to Shay who eventually bobbed her head and the four of them acted like it was their first double date, Angie meeting Dawson while they ate and watched their colleagues tear around the park with the kids. Dawson liked Angie immediately and watched Shay perk up with every joking question she asked the brunette about art. Then Truck and Squad came ambling over to the table to meet the new girl and suss her out. Hermann teased Shay relentlessly for not bringing Angie around before. Dawson laughed at that and glanced up at Kelly. He wrapped one arm around her waist to rest quietly on her hip and tuck her gently into his side as Otis sat down to explain the relative merits of graphic novels as art. Capp threw pretzels at him to make him stop.

They didn't get one call. They stayed til it got dark and watched the fireworks stream over Lake Michigan with loud cheers and hugs. For just one brief moment, everything was perfect. Everyone was alright and Dawson stood in front of Kelly while he hugged her from behind, her arms crisscrossed over his own around her waist. His chin was tucked into her neck and she fell back into him while he murmured all the naughty things he was going to do to her in his bed that night. His bed. Where she'd never slept. He really was done with catering to Shay's concerns. To anyone's. Dawson giggle sighed as Kelly bit her ear and she turned her head. Casey was staring right at her. She held his gaze while Kelly made her shudder, felt herself begin to flush and go damp with what he was saying. She couldn't hide from this anymore. She didn't even want to. She stared right back until he looked away.

Thank you for reading! This is quite literally the quiet before the storm...