A/N: I do not own any of the Chicago Fire, PD or Med characters that show up in my stories… I just like to play with them. I DO own the characters of Katherin, Ken and anyone else that I make up. This one plays fast and loose with the time lines of the seasons… Gabby isn't around and Stella and Severide aren't together.

Warning: Domestic violence mentioned ; language and future sexual stuff.

Chapter 2

The mood got happier as the night went on and more people crowded into the bar. Kat tried to move to a corner on several occasions to get out of the way of the firefighters but they stopped her every time. So here she was, stuck on a stool between two very tall , very handsome men. The owner, Herrmann, he told her if she wanted to press charges against Ken they knew some pretty good police officers that would be glad to help, which lead to Kelly explaining to Matt what he had missed earlier.

"My ex brother in law is a detective in the Intelligence unit at the 21st district. I can call him right now, get him down here." Casey pulled out his phone.

"Oh no , that's not necessary really . He… got mad. I'm fine. " Kat cringed when she heard herself talking . Every textbook response from someone that had been abused was coming out of her mouth. It was automatic, she had said them so many times. "Really, he's not usually like that. " She couldn't stop herself. She didn't miss the look that Casey and Severide gave each other, or the fact Casey went ahead and texted someone when he thought she wasn't looking .

"At least let me look at it." The quiet blond snuck up on her. "We can go in the back for privacy if you want. "

Kat knew she wasn't getting out of this, so she just shrugged her shoulders and followed Sylvie to the back room. The moment they exited the men started chatting like girls in a sorority .

"Call Antonio , Jay, anyone. That guy wouldn't have given up if we hadn't been here." Kelly made it a point to let Matt know.

"She ran out of her house without a hat or gloves… she's barely got a coat ." Herrmann mentioned . "She was frozen when she walked in here earlier. I don't like it, not at all."

Emily Foster was the newest member of house 51, and she sat back and smiled. Even in her short run so far she had seen how this house came together in times of crisis , and helped anyone that needed it. It seemed like this Kat girl was going to be their next "project." She listened to the men talk about what they could do to help, and snickered to herself. Every single one of these guys could be a Disney Prince, they were so noble.

In the back room Kat rolled up her sleeve to show Sylvie her wrist. "See really it's nothing ."

Sylvie gave her a look which caused Kat to press her lips together in silence. "Where else do you have them?" She has seen this before, Kat moved slowly and she knew what that meant.

Kat looked at her like a deer in headlights . "What? I don't…"

Sylvie just shook her finger at her and crossed her arms, causing Kat to glance downward like she had been scolded. She slowly took off her shirt, revealing the myriad of black and blue marks that covered her back and sides. Sylvie gasped, tears sprang to her eyes. "Oh my god honey! Are there more? Do they hurt? You should go to the hospital. "

Kat shook her head vehemently, although Sylvie wasn't sure to what statement. She handed Kat her shirt back, allowing her to get re dressed and waited for the woman to speak. "Yes, there are more. But since we just met I figure you need to buy me another drink before you get me to take my pants off. " She was trying to be funny, but it sounded forced. Sylvie just grabbed her hand and squeezed , not too tight but tight enough.

"You need to report this. Immediately. " the tiny blond was strong when she needed to be, and at this moment she was practically pulling Kat back to the bar area. "Casey, call Antonio right now. " She plopped Kat down on the open stool she had left prior. The men all gave each other looks but everyone knew when she had that tone of voice not to argue with her.

"Already messaged him. He'll be here soon, so will most of the unit." Matt raised his eyebrow at Sylvie "Is there something we should know?"

Kats face burned red, from embarrassment and the scotch. Oh, the scotch. She waved Herrmann down and asked for another glass. He gave her a look but went ahead and poured it. This time she didn't sip, she downed the entire thing in one gulp. Kat closed her eyes as she felt the smooth liquid burn it's way down to her stomach. She could hear Sylvie still talking but the words weren't really clear. She realized that she was on her way to being drunk, probably not the best idea if she was going to be talking to police officers. When she opened her eyes Herrmann had put a cup of coffee in front of her. God bless this nosy saint. She took the mug in her hands and breathed in the rich aroma, blowing on it before taking a sip.

"She has bruises everywhere!" Sylvie was not being quiet, even a little. The men turned and looked at Kat, who was still holding the mug of coffee sipping it slowly. She realized she had better just come out and tell them.

"Yeah, he threw me down the stairs earlier. It was a lot of fun but I thought I had better find some less harmful entertainment for the evening." Her attempt at humor fell flat when the men jumped up and started going to get their coats. "Oh geeze no come sit back down." She reached out and grabbed the closest guys arm, it happened to be Kelly. "Yes, he did do that. Yes, I have bruises everywhere, more she didn't see. And I really appreciate you all being such boy scouts, wanting to defend me and all but that guy? He's not someone you want to mess with." Her face flushed even deeper when she realized she was still holding on to Kelly's arm. She quickly let go and grabbed ahold of her cup of coffee again, wrapping her hands around it. "I will talk to your friends when they get here, okay? Can we just go back to having a nice conversation that doesn't revolve around me and my issues? Otis! I want to know where that nickname came from." She turned and faced the bartender, who gave her a look but began the story, while the rest of the firefighters sat back down and waited.

When the door opened a few minutes later the group turned and found one of the members of the Intelligence unit coming in. "Damn it's cold out there!" the first one through the door bellowed, shaking his body out and pulling off his coat. Kats face might as well be a permanent shade of red. The man was hot, Latino and muscular. And oh shit he was coming their way. She shut her eyes and prayed he was not the one she would be talking to. "Matt, how ya doing ?" the man slapped Casey on the back.

"Antonio, can't complain. Listen there's someone I need to introduce you to…" he turned to face Kat and she knew she was in trouble. "This is our friend Katherin Bend. She needs to file a police report at the district, but we thought maybe she could talk to you first. "

"Hi, Detective Antonio Dawson. Nice to meet you. " He stuck out his hand , leaving Kat no choice but to shake it.

"Likewise Detective . I told these guys this wasn't necessary…" she trailed off when she heard all of them start protesting . Antonio looked at them all before commenting "Sounds like I need a drink." Otis shoved a beer at him and he took a long pull before gesturing to Kat to follow him, which she did, holding her coffee cup. "Listen Matt told me a man came in bothering you earlier, but he didn't go into details. Why don't you tell me what happened?" he pointed to an open table and they sat down.

Before she could the door opened again and more members of the Intelligence unit came rushing through the door, shaking off snow off their bodies. Kat glanced at the group coming towards them and bit her lip. Jesus did this city only hire good looking people? Three men and two women waved to the bartenders , grabbed drinks and came to sit with them. Kat felt extremely out of place, she should NOT be here.

"Hey Tonio!" a tall sandy brown haired man with blue eyes and freckles called out to the detective sitting with her. "Who's your friend?" his eyes ran over her like Matts did earlier, causing Kat to again blush a deep red. She knew she looked terrible, getting the shit kicked out of you would do that to a girl.

"Gang, this is Katherin Bend."

"Kat." She quickly corrected him and then cursed herself for doing it.

"Kat. These are my coworkers at the 21st." He started pointing and introducing each member "Officers Kim Burgess, Adam Ruzek, and Kevin Atwater. Detectives Hailey Upton and Jay Halstead. " They all nodded at her. "So you were telling me what happened?"

She sighed. There was no getting out of it, she might as well just tell them. "My ex came in tonight, and tried to force me to leave with him. The guys, they just were being over protective-"

"No! You tell them what actually happened Kat!" Sylvie had snuck up behind the group and made Kat jump.

"Jesus woman you need a bell! Fine. He threw me down the stairs earlier tonight and I left and found my way here to these nice new friends who want me to file a police report. " She had done it. Gotten the words out. She glanced around their faces waiting to see the inevitable pity looks, but instead she saw anger.

"Antonio she has bruises, everywhere. She needs to go to the hospital, the sooner the better . " Sylvie laid her hand on Antonio's arm, and Kat saw the connection between them. Seemed her new tiny sneaky friend had a secret of her own.

Antonio nodded "You want to go now?"

Kat didn't. She didn't want to go at all. She had been to the hospital before , multiple times . All it ever did was piss Ken off more. "I really appreciate the concern, truly . But here's the honest to god truth, if I go he will find out. When he finds out he'll be mad. When he's mad, things happen." She shut her eyes tight trying to block out the images. "It's a vicious cycle and I don't see it ending any time soon." She finished her coffee and got up. "Again, really, thank you. But I should go." She walked back to the bar to hand over her empty cup and grabbed her coat, slipping it on. Before anyone could protest she was back outside in the bitter cold . She bundled up as best she could and started to make her way back to her house.

She didn't get far before she heard a voice calling her name. She turned and found Kelly running after her. When he caught up he pulled her close and pulled a hat down on her head and a scarf around her neck. "Here, at least take these."

She took a deep breath in and died a little . It smelled like smoke and something woodsy, she guessed his cologne. "I'm really sorry about all that trouble. Please tell your friends thanks for the concern." She stood stomping her feet trying to get warm.

"I would rather you tell them yourself, when you come to our house to visit." He grinned at her, and she saw the cute little gap between his front teeth. "Fire house 51, we are on shift tomorrow, second watch. Promise me you'll think about filing the report." He was rubbing his hands up and down the length of her arms in an attempt to keep the circulation flowing but also trying to be gentle.

She wanted to grab this man and kiss him soundly. Hell she wanted to do that to every single person that gave a crap about her tonight. She just knew what trouble her filing a report would bring. "You have your phone ?" she held out her hand and he nodded and gave it to her. She punched in her info and handed it back. "Text me the address and I'll be there." She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek then walked away. Kelly looked down at his phone and laughed at the name she gave herself "Hot mess". He immediately sent her a message with the address and walked back into the bar.