Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 1 – Chances Are
Summary: AU A chance meeting brings Erin Lindsay and Kelly Severide together in the unlikeliest of places. But a surprising tragedy forces them to work together to survive while trying to deny growing feelings.
Disclaimer: Chicago Fire, PD and Med and its characters are the property of Dick Wolfe, NBC. I only own my evil muse (Alice-love her!) and any OCs that might come along.
A/N: Hey my fellow #lindseride lovers! So was watching the movie 'The Mountain Between Us' (loved it!) and was inspired and thought hey…I can retweak this idea to give our fave couple a new adventure and meeting. Always love to be inspired by different things to keep from becoming stale! (this was inspired by the movie) But you don't have to have seen the movie to hopefully enjoy this angsty romantic adventure. At least…I hope you all enjoy it!
~New York, December~
"Remind me to thank Hank again for loaning you to us."
"To help put that scum away, it was my honor," Erin told Sargent Olivia Benson as they stood just inside the entranceway to the police precinct on a snowy evening. "Wish the weather would clear up though."
"Yeah…they say this could be a bad one. You flying out tonight?" Olivia asked in concern.
"Actually tomorrow. Heading upstate to pay my respects to a friend who passed on a few years back. I have always meant to get up there before but just never had the time."
"And how are things with Jake?" Olivia asked with a small smile.
"They are…good. He's talking the M word but…"
"Doubts? If you have any doubts you know you need to listen to your gut," the older woman warmly warned.
"I know. We've only been together for about six months but he said it was just the next natural step. Just wish there was more of a spark you know?"
"Don't stay with him because you feel you owe it to him. Do what's best for you. Trust me…don't have any more regrets, especially romantic ones."
"Yeah…good point," Erin slowly pondered as she gave her friend one more hug. "Next time you're in Chicago drop by."
"I will. Say Hi to Hank for me."
"I think he'd like it if you said it yourself…in person," Erin replied with a smile as Olivia's expression instantly warmed.
"Safe flight home."
"Thanks."
Erin picked up her small duffle bag and hurried outside and into a waiting cab. She leaned her head back on the seat after she had given the cabbie instructions and then let her mind ponder Olivia's words.
'So…I was thinking…maybe we could talk about something more permanent between us.'
'What do you mean Jake? You mean…marriage?'
'Well…others have done it and made it work,' he retorted with a smile. 'I think we could. Think about it.'
They had been together for less than a year and he wanted to move a bit faster than she wanted and that was mostly due to a small voice inside her that said he wasn't the one that made her go weak in the knees…she wasn't gaga for him…there wasn't that can't live without spark that she longed for. That feeling that made her yearn for the other person and want to be with them more than anything. With Jake it was more familiarity…he was safe. Comfortable. But she wasn't sure she wanted to spend the rest of her life with just comfortable and marriage was such a serious step. Olivia's right…you have doubts…don't get married!
Her trip came at the best possible time, it gave her a break from their seriousness and a chance for her to ponder his proposal suggestion and then give him an answer when she got back. She had doubts – doubts she was now forced to consider.
But what if I never meet that one person that makes me want to give up everything for them? What if…was the question she was now forced to ponder as the cabbie slowly drove on into the dark, snowy night.
XXXXXXXX
"This was amazing," Kelly grinned as he gave the smiling brunette a warm hug. "Seriously amazing."
"I was hoping tonight would be a success but never figured it'd be this big a hit. Maybe if it was right smack in the middle of Manhattan but to get this much attention upstate? Guess all my social media hounding paid off."
"It did. Mom would be proud Katie," Kelly told her in truth.
"And…Benny?"
"Yeah him too…although he'd say…course I knew you'd do well," Kelly retorted in a mocking tone as his sister offered a giggle in return. "He said he'll be here next week."
"I know he's texted me about a dozen times today. Feels guilty."
"He'll make it up to you," Kelly assured her as he took the last mouthful of his beer and placed the empty mug back on the enamel surface. He looked around the cozy but busy restaurant and then back at his sister with a tense smile.
"Stay a few more days. You just broke up."
"Not just….it was few months ago. Was over long before that," he huffed as he stared at the bottom of his empty glass. "Wasn't the one. We both knew it," he tried to shrug it off.
"You'll meet someone new."
"I'm done looking for a while," Kelly stated firmly as Katie's dark brows arched in disbelief. "What? I am…next time…there has to be that spark. You know…the moment you see someone and just…know," he muttered as another food blogger walked up to them.
"Chef Katie can I have a few more words?"
"Course."
Kelly gave his sister a nod and then watched her leave before he gestured to the waitress to get him one more beer. Not driving so I can have another…he reasoned as he pulled his phone when heard a beep. It was a reminder of what time his plane flew out the next day. It also came with a travel weather advisory that the flight might be delayed due to weather – something that dismayed him. He was happy to have spent the week with his sister as he helped her get her new restaurant ready for opening night – this night, but now it was time to get back home to his own place and his friends. He would text Matt in the morning about the delay if there was in fact one and went back to enjoying the night with his sister and her new found success.
Next time…there has to be that spark right from the start…
XXXXXXXX
"Stay longer next time," Katie told her brother, Kelly the next morning as she gave him a hug and then watched him turn to leave.
"Next time plan for better weather," he smirked as the cold wind started to bite his cheeks.
"Deal. I'll put that on the menu," she grinned as he nodded, grabbed his duffle bag and then hurried toward the waiting cab.
"Nice day to fly," he lightly groaned as the cabbie glanced into the rearview mirror.
"They've cancelled most of the flights because of the storms over the Appalachian's. Maybe try Greyhound?"
"Nah I gotta be back in Chicago tonight," Kelly huffed as he pulled his phone. "Well…they haven't cancelled mine yet so maybe only some flights?"
The cabbie merely shrugged as Kelly slumped back into his seat and cast a somewhat morose glance outside into the dark grey, snowy morning. It wasn't his choice to fly this time of year but he wanted to support his sister's restaurant opening so he had no choice. Now he could only hope that the flight wouldn't be cancelled and he could get back home and try to regroup.
XXXXXXXX
"Seriously?" Erin grumbled as she stared at the clerk in the small, stuffy airport about an hour later. "No flights at all back to Chicago?"
"What do you mean all flights to Chicago have been cancelled?"
She heard the agitated voice beside her and dared to glance over to see who else shared her current frustration. Instantly she wished she hadn't. He slightly turned when he heard her say the same light, offered her a somewhat nervous smile and then turned his attention back to the other airport clerk. Did I just feel…a flutter in my gut…no…SNAP OUT OF IT – it's just stress! She commanded herself as the clerk looked at her in expectation.
"I can rebook you for a later flight that becomes available or one tomorrow? The storm might pass by then. But is there someone you can stay with in the meantime?"
"No I need to be back in Chicago tonight."
"I'm sorry Sir…"
"I'm sorry Ms. but…"
Kelly muttered something under his breath as he walked away from the counter, pulled his phone and texted Matt.
'Flight's grounded because of storms. Might try to find another flight. I'll let you know. –Kelly'
At the same time Erin muttered something under her breath and then pulled away just as disgruntled. She glanced over at Kelly at the same time he looked over at her and she couldn't help but offer him a somewhat strained smile. But that was enough for him to feel a small twinge of heat instantly flash up into his core. Damn…the dimples…he inwardly groaned as he looked back down at his phone. She's probably taken…just…let it go…the chances of you meeting the love of your life in a small airport in upstate New York….
Erin concluded her text to Voight and then looked back at Kelly for a few seconds before she forced herself to pull her gaze away – her mind also telling her the same thing, the chances of her meeting someone she could spend the rest of her life with was slim to none. My luck isn't that good.
"Stuck here huh…"
She heard his smooth voice and looked over faster than she might have wanted. "With a storm coming," she added with a small grumble as he nodded and offered a small smile. "Where were you headed back to?"
"Chicago. You?"
"Also…Chicago," she replied somewhat slowly as the two of them looked at the other for any signs of familiarity or déjà vu. But it wasn't like they were going back to a small town, Chicago was a big city and both reasoned they just lived on different sides and had never met – until now. "I'm almost tempted to take a bus back."
"Yeah same…back on shift tomorrow," Kelly idly chatted as both of them paused for a few seconds as an older man with a dog walked past them.
"Same. Just here for…business. You?"
"Personal. My sister just opened her first restaurant. It's small bistro style and the rent up here is cheaper than right in Manhattan or something…" he paused and then offered a nervous ramble. "Sorry."
"No, I agree," Erin replied as she started to feel at ease talking to the handsome stranger. "What kind of food?"
"Fusion. New age stuff," he retorted with a small shrug. "I just know it tastes good."
"Ah…that's important. And if…" she started and then stopped as one sentence from the older man standing at the counter only a few meters away instantly caught their attention.
"Nah this weather doesn't bother me…I've flown in worse. I'll be fine."
Kelly and Erin both traded quizzical glances and then within seconds both were up and headed over to the older man.
"Excuse me Sir…"
"Sir?" He turned to Erin with a friendly smile. "That's way too formal for me. Just call me Sam."
"Sam…so couldn't help but overhear that you might be flying out…today?"
"I am…you stuck here because of the storm?"
"Well…we both are," Kelly instantly chimed in. "Where are you headed?"
"Iowa," Sam replied casually as he looked at the two before him. "Where…are you two headed?"
"Chicago," both Kelly and Erin chimed in at once. "I just got a refund and…"
"Same. How much would it cost?" Erin asked in haste.
The older man looked at them and while he knew that to hire a plane just to fly the two of them someplace a bit off track from his final destination would be a bit more costly than just two regular seat fares, he instantly felt for them, maybe because both reminded them of family and in a crisis you always help family.
"The cost of two seats sounds just about right," he stated as both Kelly and Erin exchanged relieved glances.
"And the storm over the Appalachians?" Erin inquired in concern. "They are cancelling everything."
"Once you file a flight plan, won't they ground you also?" Kelly added.
"Don't need to file one," Sam explained as he started to move toward the exit door to head outside into the snowy morning. "Still lights out…so we'll be flying VFR and we'll beat the approaching storm."
"VFR?" Erin wonders.
"Visual Flight Rules. Long as I can see clearly everything before me, we'll be good. Been doing this a while…for the military, some commercially and now…just to keep my skills fresh. We'll be fine. If we see the storm coming, we'll just…go around," Sam tells them as he points toward his plane. "Buddy's ready to go. Are you two?"
"Ready," Kelly replied firmly as he looked at Erin who instantly nodded in agreement.
"Alright then, follow me. And who are you two?"
"Kelly."
"Erin."
"Alright Kelly and Erin. Let's go to Chicago," Sam declared as he pulled the door to the small plane open and hopped inside.
"Nice to meet you," Kelly extended his hand. "And thanks for the help with this."
"Yeah you too," Erin smiled as she reveled in the warmth the connection between them was making in her. "Well…shall we go?"
"After you," Kelly gestured warmly as he let her get in ahead of then paused before he got in. He cast a worried glance at the incoming storm and the ugly grey skies and felt his agitation start to gain momentum. This guy's a pro…flew combat missions and the like…you'll be fine…
With that he got in, closed the door and could only offer a small prayer that they'd make it to Chicago safely.
That prayer…wasn't going to be answered.
A/N: EEKS! Hehe so….hope you all liked the start to this and you know I always love to explore new ways for our couple to meet and hope you all liked the start to this. Sparks of course but trouble also ahead! oh dear…please do review with your thoughts on this as I'd love to know what you think so far and if you are excited for more and thanks so much!
PS: Since we're in the summer months now with family holidays and such we'll try to update on a weekly basis but if we miss a week we apologize in advance!