Title: The City Between Us
Chapter 20 – The Mountain Between Us

'Why him! Why do you love him over me!'

Jake's angry words resounded in Erin's head as she stared at Kelly's sleeping frame in the bed a few feet away. She had gotten the small wound on her arm tended to and rushed to Med as if the vehicle she was in would explode into a million little pieces if she didn't arrive there in a certain timeframe.

'How is he! How's Kelly!' she fairly demanded when she rushed in through the ER doors at Med and up to April. 'Where is he? I need to see him? How badly was he shot?' She rambled off in haste.

'He's going to be fine. He was actually pretty lucky. The shot took out the lower part of the appendix and if he had waited any longer he could have gone into septic shock but we were able to repair everything in time. The surgery was clean and his recovery time won't be as long as if it was fully ruptured.'

'Oh thank God. Can I see him?'

'Of course. Come with me.'

Kelly started to stir which instantly pulled her from her light stupor and snap to attention. "…hey…" he managed with a soft croak as she leaned in closer and planted a soft kiss on his lips.

"Hey," she replied warmly as his hand slowly lifted and rested on the bandage on her forearm. "Just a scratch. Jake's dead. It's over."

"Can't say I'm sorry…" he managed with a small cough.

"April said they were able to repair everything in time so your recovery won't be as long as it could have been had the shot been worse."

"Good…think Boden is ready to think…I don't want…to come back," Kelly replied with a small smile. "You sure you're okay?"

"'I am now. It's over. I saw it with my own eyes. Now we can just focus on us and getting our new life started without looking over our shoulders."

"But your stuff…"

"Was just stuff. You are what really matters to me."

"Come here…" he entreated as his hand snaked behind her head and planted another kiss on her lips before her forehead rested on his a few minutes before she pulled back and settled back into the chair beside his bed.

"So…what are you going to do with your free time?"

"Thought I'd go to New York…see my sister."

"Oh…course," Erin replied with a tight lipped smile as her brow gently furrowed.

"With my wife at my side of course," he grinned as her smile instantly widened. "Think Voight will grant you a few days leave?"

"Better take advantage of it now right?"

"Right," he agreed with a small frown.

"What is it?"

"There is one other place I want to go."

"Where?" She inquired as she leaned in closer as he whispered in her ear. "Think that's a great idea."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Erin replied with a warm smile. "Now rest up so you can leave this place."

"Copy that," he retorted with a small chuckle.

The next few days while he was in Chicago Med, Kelly's time was filled with visits from Matt and Gabby, the team from 21 and the team from 51; at one time all were there at once and passersby could only speculate of the importance of the person on the receiving end of all the attention. But Kelly would insist it was just his extended family and that was it.

XXXXXXXX

"Almost feels odd walking back in…" Kelly stated with a sigh as he and his wife walked into their apartment a few days later; Erin was quick to grasp his hand and hold it in hers. "The team did a great job of cleaning up."

"We are truly lucky to have such great friends and family to help us and…and we'll never have to look over our shoulder's wondering where Jake Wilson is."

"That is a relief," Kelly stated with a small huff. "You okay?"

"I am now that I know you're safe and he's gone. I feel bad it came to that but at the same time…I am relieved. Now we can just concentrate on building our new life together."

"Like the sound of that," he smiled as he leaned in for a kiss and held her close.

"Tired?"

"Want to nap with me?"

"Actually…I would," she replied with a wide grin as he locked the door and the two of them slowly headed into their bedroom. Kelly eased himself down and then Erin followed suit and spooned up next to him on his uninjured side. As soon as she was pressed up against him; Kelly's slight nervous anxiety started to settle and he felt only contentment.

But as they started to drift into a light slumber, each could feel the other tense and twitch at times and could only rightly surmise that it was from recent events that conjured themselves up as distorted nightmares. Luckily they would subside as quickly as they formed so the rest for them was somewhat peaceful.

"Can't believe we slept that long," Kelly mentioned as he slowly walked into the kitchen later that same day.

"Needed it. Haven't slept much in the past few days and despite what Wil and April say…Med's beds aren't comfortable," she grinned as he neared. "Hungry?"

"A little. Soft stuff right? What…is that?"

"Trying my hand at…Risotto," Erin replied as she read the box and then looked at Kelly with a shrug. "Sounded easy to make."

"Does Chan's have takeout soup?" Kelly deadpanned.

"Not funny," Erin groaned as she gave him a small slap to his shoulder.

"I survived Jake only to die by…mushroom Risotto."

"So dead…" Erin laughed as she narrowed her gaze.

But as the evening progressed and dinner slowly came to fruition each of them was forced to agree that just being in the company of the other, doing normal, domestic things was more than satisfying. They talked about the new furniture they'd be getting to replace hers and fill in the rest of the gaps in their new home; to compliment his existing furniture. They talked about their upcoming trip and where they wanted to go for their real honeymoon when they could afford to take two weeks and go someplace warm and exotic in the dead of winter.

"Now this…seems like the perfect way to end the night," Erin whispered as she snuggled up to her husband as they watched the end of a movie on TV.

"Oh really…perfect?" Kelly playfully arched his brows as she looked up with a small smirk.

"You just had major surgery and you are making sexual innuendos?" She countered with pursed lips.

"It wasn't that major. and…I can make them…" he whispered as he leaned in to kiss her lips. But as soon as he did, he felt a small pang in his side and quickly pulled back with a frown. "Right…"

"Come on…let's get some sleep. Big day tomorrow."

"Right you are."

XXXXXXXX

"Safe flight," Matt told Kelly the next morning as he and Gabby slowly walked toward the departure gate at O'Hare airport.

"And if there's a storm…" Gabby started.

"We know…stay put," Erin smiled as she hugged her friend.

"See you in a few days," Kelly told Matt as he slapped him on the back.

"Text if there are any issues," Matt replied as he gave his friend a hug and then stepped back beside his wife and wrapped his arm around her and held her close. "Think they'd listen if there was another storm?"

"No chance in hell," Gabby retorted as both of them laughed and then took their leave. "Speaking of planes…where are we going on our vacation? Hopefully someplace warm."

"Like the sound of that," Matt grinned in agreement.

XXXXXXXX

"You know…if not for that storm we wouldn't have met," Erin mused as they sat on the plane waiting to disembark.

"True but…"

"If there's a storm we'll wait…" she retorted with a giggle and settled in for the next couple of hours. Despite the fact that the flight to upstate New York was less than two hours as soon as they hit a small bit of turbulence, they each looked at the other with anxious glances of anxiety.

"At least the landing was somewhat…smooth," Kelly cleared his throat a bit nervously as she gave his hand a small squeeze and then looked outside to make sure the skies were actually clear like they were announced.

"Kelly! Erin!"

Both heard their names and then turned to see Katie rushing toward them with open arms and a wide, inviting smile.

"Hey sis!" Kelly greeted warmly as he hugged her close and then pulled back to let Erin do the same.

"You actually came!"

"Katie…"

"Hey hush! I'm just glad you're both here right now," Katie said as she looped each of her arms through one of her brother's and one of Erin's. "And with your new wife…like you promised."

"Course."

"That's so great! I made something especially for you!"

"Now this I can't wait for."

They three of them left the small airport and headed toward Katie's waiting car and then on toward her waiting restaurant.

"Wow…something smells amazing," Erin mentioned as they walked into the cozy establishment; the compliment making the chef beam from ear to ear.

"Well…take off your coats and settle in…this isn't a 'dine and dash'," Katie told them as they headed for the Chef's table near the back of the restaurant.

"She really did an amazing job with this place," Erin complimented as she sat down opposite her husband at the table set for two.

"Yeah she really did. Was so proud of her when she opened it. Wish it was closer to home but I get her reasoning."

"Maybe one day," Erin smiled as she poured them a half a glass of wine. "I won't tell Will if you won't."

"Secret is safe with me," he chuckled as he took a small sip and then leaned back in his chair. "Like this…just relaxing and knowing we don't have to rush out to a call at any second."

"That is actually kinda wonderful," Erin agreed as she pulled her phone to which he arched his brows. "Lean in closer," she instructed as he planted a playful kiss on her check as she made a mock surprise face and then snapped another with her smiling.

"Lemme guess…you're gonna post that?"

"Day one of our mini honeymoon," she beamed as she pulled up her social media page. "Of course I'm going to post it," she paused as she looked at him seriously for a few seconds. "I finally have reason to want to be happy and show that off – probably or the first time in my life."

"Sounds like a reason to brag."

"Sure does," Erin agreed as Katie returned with a platter of food that smelt amazing. "But this…think I'll post this also."

"Yeah? You post foodie pictures?"

"She does now," Kelly retorted as Erin's lips pursed and the three of them laughed. "Sit and join us sis."

"Okay I can for a bit…otherwise…duty calls. Tonight is just for you two…my wedding gift to you both," she ended with a hug for both.

"She is…something else," Erin praised as they watched Katie disappear back into the kitchen.

"That…she is," Kelly replied with a grin that suddenly turned serious a few seconds later.

"What is it?" Erin asked in surprise as Kelly held up her phone to her; the same phone he had been scrolling a few seconds earlier.

"Isn't that…"

"Is it! Seriously?" Erin lightly chirped as she looked at the Instagram feed for Olivia Benson. "Hank's in New York."

"Thankfully not upstate…do you think…"

"He's paranoid but…but now I know why he approved it so fast," she commented to shake her head and then made a comment. The phone dinged a few seconds later to which Kelly snatched it from his wife's grasp and added his own comment which made her laugh. A few seconds later, Gabby joined the conversation and then Matt and the evening took another surprising turn – if family couldn't come with them, they'd be reminded they were never that far away.

"We are blessed to have friends like them…family," Erin smiled as they started into the first course.

"We are," he agreed as he followed her lead.

Katie came back to sit with them for a bit and the three of them talked the end of the case with Jake, Erin's burnt out apartment, buying new furniture and then looking forward to the life ahead. Katie told them that she's seeing someone – not serious but only time would tell how serious it would turn out – he understood her need to take things slow and garnered much respect for that. She also told them about Benny's latest trip and when she might be visiting Chicago next.

"This dessert is amazing," Erin commented as she slowly picked at the sweet creation before her. "Almost too pretty to eat."

"I know…so creative. I put cake on a plate and top with ice cream and think it's a work of art."

"Would be to me."

"You're easy to please," Kelly smiled.

"You're saying I'm easy?" She shot back playfully as he just laughed and shook his head. "Get better already will you?"

"Funny," he replied in sarcasm. "Why do you think I'm eating so much…this way I can just roll into bed and get some sleep afterward."

"Actually…that sounds good."

"Even better? We don't have to get up early tomorrow."

"Amen to that."

Katie came back to join them for an after dinner coffee and sat with them until the next seating came in, at which time she had to go back to make sure the chefs kept things running smoothly.

"Thanks for an amazing night," Kelly thanked his sister later that same night as they put on their coats and prepared to leave.

"Was simply…as he said amazing. Best food I think I have ever eaten," Erin praised as she hugged Katie Severide close.

"Thank you both…breakfast tomorrow right? What time are you on the road?"

"Early afternoon…whatever…we don't have a set schedule."

"And we like it that way."

"Alright you two…see you tomorrow."

Katie watched them walk arm and arm to a waiting rental car, get inside and then waved them off before she too headed back into her restaurant with a contented expression on her face and a warm feeling in her heart.

That night, both Kelly and Erin lay in each other's arms, happy and contented with the day they spent with each other and closed their eyes with happy thoughts; whisked into the dream world instead of the nightmarish hell that had greeted them the few nights before.

XXXXXXXX

"You sure these will match?" Erin asked as they loaded up the four items into the back of their rental SUV and closed the back hatch cover.

"I'm sure they'll go…they look great," Kelly shrugged as they got in and then headed for another familiar destination.

On the way there they talked about their casual five star breakfast with Katie, where they wanted to for their 'hot' honeymoon and how their schedules would work when they got back to the real world. The conversation for the bulk of their trip was casual and enjoyable but as soon as they neared their final destination, Kelly noticed Erin's sentences got shorter and a few huffs were heard.

"We didn't have to come."

"No…we had to. We both owed it to him…I just remember all that happened," she recalled as the SUV started to slow as it turned onto the bumpy dirt road. "Not a fan of winter…but sure is pretty up here."

"Yeah probably has great colors in spring and summer."

"And the lake," Erin mused as she offered him a tender smile. "Does it give you any ideas about your cabin?"

"It sure does…so glad that we're on the same page with that."

"A summer cabin on the lake? Sounds…pretty special. Can't wait to get started fixing it up," she told him in truth as the SUV started to slow. Both of them looked ahead at the serene setting along with the quiet structure and felt feelings of both content and anxiety – both for good reasons. Here they faced death…and life and came to the stark realization they couldn't live without the other.

"Ready?" Kelly asked as he stopped the SUV and looked at his wife who nodded and then both got out.

"The air up here is so fresh," Erin noted as she slipped her hand into his and they both remained in place for a few seconds; listening to the serene stillness and happy that this time at the secluded cabin, neither of their lives were in danger.

"Can…I help you two?"

Both turned around to see an older man approach them with a curious look and Kelly was first to extend his hand first and offer a greeting.

"Hi…yeah uh I'm Kelly Severide and this is my wife Erin. We're from Chicago and…well this might seem odd but…but we're the ones who used up your chairs for firewood a few months back. Left a rather hurried note."

"Oh yeah…wondered what that was about. Everything okay?"

"It is now," Erin replied with a kind smile. "And we came back to leave four new ones. We were told this place was usually empty until the spring or summer so weren't sure anyone would be here."

"Heard it was pretty life and death."

"It was but…wait…heard? From who?" Kelly asked as he looked at Erin who shrugged.

"Same couple that were up here about a month after it happened and also brought four new chairs."

"What couple?" Erin asked in haste.

"Some city feller from Chicago I think…yeah and his…well I thought it was his wife because they acted married and even stayed a few nights here after he explained who they were."

"By any chance…do the names Hank and Olivia sound familiar?"

"Yeah that's right. Cops right?"

"Uh huh…" Erin snickered. "They explained what happened?"

"We're very sorry," Kelly offered in haste.

"That's okay. Chicago sure has generous folk in it," the old man smiled as he neared. "Sorry…name's Fred. Well why don't you bring those chairs in and come in for dinner. That is of course…unless you have other plans?"

"We'd love to stay for dinner," Kelly stated firmly as they unloaded the four chairs and then headed inside. They were different from the one's Hank and Olivia had bought but fit nicely with the outside deck furniture so he was happy to have the additions.

"Lucky you caught me today. Was about to close up for the month and head down south to visit my grandchildren. How's that for role reversal. Isn't it the old folks that are supposed to move south?" He chuckled to himself as he put out two more place settings.

"You live here alone Fred?"

"Nah my Wilma is down in Orlando already. Yeah I know…Fred and Wilma…kids get a kick out of it two," he grinned. "We live a few miles from here normally but mostly down south now. Well pull up a chair. Don't be shy. Gots lots of them now."

"Sure smells good."

"Family recipe and always happy to share."

As the three of them sat down to enjoy their meal, Kelly and Erin learned about Fred, his family, the history of the cabin and the surrounding area. In return they told him all about their adventure on how they first met, the plane crash and how they ended up in his cabin using the chairs for firewood.

"Mountain between us," he mused as Erin looked up in wonder.

"Ah just something I heard your friends say. Figured he was referring to this place," he smiled warmly. "You know…I got the electrical guy coming tomorrow. Just need someone to be here when he's around. Always nice to have folks here and well…you two seem trustworthy. Or…you in any hurry to get back to friendly Chicago?"

"Really? You'd let us stay a few days?" Kelly asked in shock.

"Yeah. Just mail me the key when you leave. I know it's in good hands. 'sides…I might know a thing or two about the other two that were up here."

"Who exactly are you Fred Wilkins?"

"A man of mystery," he laughed.

"We'd love to. Thank you."

"My pleasure."

And true to his word, as soon as dinner was done, he packed up his small bag, gave them a few instructions along with his address and cell phone, got in his truck and headed away.

"That was…surprising," Erin commented as she pulled away and slowly headed for the lake; Kelly a few paces behind. "Although…not surprising."

"Course you won't let Hank hear the last of it."

"Either of them," she smiled as she stopped by the edge. "I remember it like it was yesterday," she whispered as he pulled her back against his chest and held her close.

"I do to. Nearly lost you that day. Was horrible," he whispered in her ear as his warm breath sent tingles down her spine. "You know…a few days here, just the two of us…in a real bed…"

"With real water and a fire place with real wood," she continued as she twisted herself in his arms and brought his cool lips down to meet hers. Instantly they were crushed with a searing kiss that flooded both with electric heat. "Mmm I want you so bad…" she whispered as she pulled back with a frown. "Sorry I…"

But he said no words, instead, took her by the hand and led her back to the waiting, cozy cabin. Once inside with the shades drawn and the doors locked, they were locked in a heated embrace ready to embark on a new mission. Piece by piece, each article of clothing came off until they were just two intertwined souls underneath the down comforter.

"I love you Kelly…"

"I love you Erin…" she replied in truth as their hearts started to race in tandem.

Their journey together had started by chance, continued by peril but ended in happiness and while tonight was a first for them it was the first of many – their happy future together was only getting started.

THE END!

A/N: and we have reached the end of our adventure! Hope you all liked this happy ending and had to wrap up all the loose ends but of course leave a few doors open. Please do leave a final review before you go and thanks so much! oh and those faithful reviewers will get a bit extra in their review reply :)