III.
Kelly stood on the sidewalk, sweat pouring down the side of his face, his helmet tucked tightly under his arm. He glanced around him, smiling at the faces of his men, congratulating them on the job well done.
"Not a single causality, and the last guy we pulled out is expected to make a full recovery."
The cheers filled the street, the men of Squad 3 patting each other on the back proudly. They all clamored into the truck, sitting in their self-designated seats, the rush of adrenaline wore off slowly, leaving a round of fatigue in it's wake.
There were very few things in life that were as satisfying as riding back to the station after a successful call.
Kelly, too, felt it's pull and let himself get lost in his thoughts, remembering his first rescue, his first promotion. When he was a kid he always knew he wanted to become a firefighter. At first it was to get validation from his father, searching for even a scrap of approval, but during his time at the academy he found himself truly falling in love with the job.
It was as addictive as it was rewarding. He knew that he was born for this - born to be a hero.
The ride back to the station was uneventful, and when they finally pulled into the station the men jumped out, rushing around each other to enjoy the first round of showers. Kelly hung back and gripped his hat in his hands, his thumb light trailing over the raised letters of his name.
"Severide," Hadley called from beside him.
Kelly looked up, meeting the man's playful gaze, and watched as he stomped toward him, debris falling from his boots. He cocked an eyebrow at him. "Yeah?"
"I'm saving the cleaning for you," he laughed, tapping the toe of his boot on the ground below. More dirt fell from his boot and Kelly internally cringed at the state of them. "I've been making sure to stomp through all the ashes I can. I'm getting them good and ready for you."
Kelly rolled his eyes and shouldered past the man. "Right, Hadley. We'll see."
After his shower and a much needed change of clothes, Severide leaned against his car, a cigar between his teeth, searching his brain for any possible connection he could that would point him in the right direction. The only thing he knew about the woman was her first name.
He was at a disadvantage, he knew, as the challenge was issued the week before - that gave him three weeks. Three weeks to weasel his way into her bed - but he didn't think that'd be the hard part. He knew he was good looking, he wasn't ashamed to admit it. He had a very physically demanding job and when he had time he liked to get in a few strength building exercises at the gym - he was fit and he knew it. But he also knew that he couldn't possibly charm her without being able to speak with her again.
Frustration grew as he imagined the look on Hadley's face if he lost - the loud, obnoxious way he'd undoubtedly let every person they saved know that his Lieutenant was cleaning his boots. Kelly took a heavy draw from the cigar, exhaling the billowing smoke with a sigh - he couldn't let that happen.
"Lieutenant," a voice called from behind him.
Kelly sighed and turned, pulling the cigar from his lips, watching as Jose Vargas came toward him, looking like he wanted to chat. "I heard you talking to Hadley earlier... You ever figured out your next move?"
"My next move?" Kelly repeated. "What are you talking about?"
Vargas nodded and clarified, "you know, the mystery woman."
"She isn't really mystery though, Vargas," Kelly chuckled. "I know her first name."
"Yeah." Vargas nodded, his lips quirking at the corner before he continued, "and you know what kind of car she drives."
Kelly stared at him before he took his final puff and stubbed the fire out onto the sidewalk. "That's right."
"Did she tell you where she was going the morning you changed her tire?" Vargas asked, his tone suggesting he knew the answer before the questioned even left his lips.
"Yeah," Kelly responded. "She was going to work."
Vargas hummed in his throat, watching Kelly with a knowing grin. "Well, if she was going to work when you met her, chances are she'll be going to work again soon. In the same direction as she was before. Probably in the same car.."
"Son of a bitch," Kelly's lips spread into a smile slowly as he came to the realization, and he clapped the other man on the shoulder in thanks. "You're a genius, Vargas."
"Ah," Vargas ducked his head. "I just really don't want to see Hadley running around with his chest puffed up if you lost."
Kelly chuckled and nodded in agreement. "That makes two of us."
Early the next morning, before his shift even started, Kelly sat in his car his eyes searching the road that stretched out behind him in his rear view mirror. His hands rested on the steering wheel lightly and his feet tapped against the floor. His entire body was anxious to move, feeling almost eager enough to step out onto the concrete outside the car, but he knew he couldn't yet - she'd drive by anytime now. His fingers began tapping against the steering wheel, drumming to a silent song. He sighed and looked down at the radio. He switched it on, sighing in contentment as classic rock pounded from the speakers.
"C'mon," he groaned, leaning his head back to rest against the seat as stretched he legs slightly. "Where are you, Charlotte?"
He sat there for a little while longer, his patience wearing thin, watching as vehicle after vehicle passed by. He scrubbed his hands over his face and chanced another glance into the mirror. He quickly sat up, his lips pulled into wide smile when he saw the top of a black vehicle coming over the hill - the very same one he'd been waiting on. He twisted the keys, his engine revving to life, and pulled out onto the road after she passed him.
He kept up with her pace, falling slightly behind so that he would be able to make any turns she decided to make. The drive wasn't long, just a few minutes down from the fire house, and when he whipped into the parking space beside her he felt more confident tan he had in a while. He stepped out of his car and leaned onto the hood of her own, crossing his legs at his ankles.
She gathered a stack of papers lying haphazardly in the passenger seat and forced them into the black bag that hung from her shoulder. Slowly, as if she were still half asleep, Charlotte glanced up and locked eyes with the smirking man on her hood. Her lips curled but she didn't allow a full smile to form. She climbed out of her car and stretched dramatically after taking a sip of her morning coffee.
"Well hello," Kelly greeted, his eyes appreciatively taking notice of the v-cut of her shirt.
"Kelly Severide," she greeted back. "How'd you find me?"
His pale blue eyes searched hers before he shrugged and winked. "Little birdie told me."
"Right," she rolled her eyes. "So you know where I work," she teased, "but have you figured out my name yet?"
He pushed off the car and moved so that he stood in front of her, his arms crossed over his chest lightly. "Not yet, but I'll figure it out."
"Very confident." Charlotte noted as she cocked an eyebrow at him. "What makes you so sure?"
"A magician never reveals his secrets," Kelly said with a smile. "How about we make a deal?"
Charlotte shifted her bag from one shoulder to the other. "A deal?"
Kelly nodded. "How about when I figure out your last name, you agree to a date with me?"
Charlotte grinned, her cheeks taking on a tinge of pink that Kelly thought suited her perfectly. She sighed dramatically, her smile still holding strong. "And if you don't figure it out?"
"I will," he promised her.
"Is that so?" She teased. "Well then, I'll go ahead and pick my outfit, Lieutenant."
Kelly chuckled, uncrossing his arms. "So? What do you say?"
Charlotte nodded and extended her hand. "Deal."