A/N: as always I do not own the characters from Chicago Fire, PD or Med. I just like playing with them. I do own my own characters, Katherin, Ken and anyone else I come up with.
Warning: Domestic violence, and sexual abuse mentioned ; rated for language and future scenes. Some of these are going to be a bit graphic, please feel free to skip over them.
Chapter 5
Kelly unlocked the door to his apartment and stepped aside letting Kat in. She stepped in the doorway and her jaw dropped. "Holy shit Kelly this place is beautiful!"
He smiled and shut the door, making sure to lock it behind him. "Nothing special. So this is my room" he pointed to the bedroom "but you can stay there . I'll take the couch. " He could have chosen the room Stella used to sleep in bit he wanted to be close to Kat, in case she needed something .
Kat shook her head. "No way, you're not sleeping on the couch in your own house . I can-"
Kelly didn't let her finish her thought . "You are taking the bedroom , end of story. How about food? Doc said you need to eat before you take another pain pill." He took her coat from her, hanging it up on the hook near the door. "Need to charge your phone?" he pointed to the cord laying on the counter . "My old roommate always forgot her cord."
Kats ears pricked when she heard that. "She?" she sat down on the stool at the island and watched him move through the kitchen, pulling out ingredients and cookware.
"Oh, yeah you met her at the firehouse. Stella Kidd. She's awesome. She's living over Herrmann's garage now."
Huh… interesting bit of info there. Kat decided to move to another topic. "So you all seem really close." She grabbed her phone and plugged it in. She decided to wait to turn it on until later. "You said you're family?"
He nodded "Yeah, when you work, sleep, eat with the same people for 24-48 hour stretches at a time, you end up being family." He opened the fridge and pulled out a bottle of Apple juice. "I know you shouldn't drink alcohol while taking pain meds, and this is the only other thing I've got. Hope it's okay?"
She smiled "Its perfect." She nodded her thanks when he poured her a glass and set it in front of her. "So how long have you worked there?"
Kelly waited a beat before answering. "Its been a long time. Casey and I started together. Youngest man to make squad ever." He grinned and pointed to himself with a thumb.
"Oh wow!" Kat had no idea what that truly meant but he was proud of that fact so she played along. "That's great! And Casey is Captain ? Are you going that route too?"
Kelly shook his head . "Nope, I don't do politics and that's what it entails. I'll stick to rescues and working with my men." He started water boiling and threw in pasta. "Spaghetti okay?"
She smiled. "Yes, sounds amazing." She couldn't resist the urge to turn her phone on, and when she did she immediately regretted it. Kelly turned around and saw her face.
"What? What is it?" he walked around the island and looked over her shoulder . "Jesus. 100 missed calls, 15 voice mails? 60 text messages ? I think you need a new number…"
Kat shook her head and tossed her phone onto the countertop. "It wouldn't matter. He would get it again." She laid her head down on the cool marble of the island , and felt Kelly's hands on her shoulders. She immediately brought her head back up, tensing for a second when she felt him trying to rub the knots away.
"Is this okay? Your shoulders are completely knotted up. I don't want to hurt you though. "
Kat couldn't speak, she just shook her head and squeaked out a "Its fine." She flipped her hair around to the front to allow him better access. He took his time, being gentle but firm, if that was a thing. Kat closed her eyes and almost fell asleep until she felt his hands let go and she had to grab the counter in front of her to stop from falling backwards.
"Sorry, pastas done." He chuckled, adding the sauce at the very last moment then giving it a quick toss and dishing it up. He scooted her plate towards her. "Eat up. " and started in on his.
Kat just sat there, dumbfounded. She looked down at the plate and took a deep breath in. It smelled like heaven she was sure of it. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until she had it in front of her. Kat picked up her utensils and began to eat.
Across town Ken was fuming . The bitch had gone to the cops, she was NEVER supposed to go to the cops, she knew that. He didn't want them sniffing around his business , but especially not around her. He started making calls and getting all the info he could on these detectives that had shown up to rescue her. When he mentioned their names to his "guy " he was informed they worked in the Intelligence unit at the 21st district, under an alleged dirty cop named Hank Voight. That he could work with. Ken got to work.
Kat pushed the plate to the middle of the counter . "Oh my gosh, that was amazing thank you!" She had eaten more in that meal than she had in the last few days , and it felt great. She grabbed a pill from the bag the doctor gave her, taking a swig of juice to wash it down. "Mark the time – 5:30 pm. I can have another one…" she looked at the instructions "At 7:30. Or 9:30. I guess it depends on my pain level?" she picked up their plates and started to go towards the sink.
"Um, what do you think you're doing?" Kelly hopped up off the stool he was residing on. "You're a guest. Guests don't clean. " He took the plates out of her hands and set them in the sink. "I'll get them later. There's a hockey game on if you want to watch?"
Oh crap. "Sure, sounds good." She smiled at him. I know nothing about hockey, this will be bad. They made their way to the couch and sat down. Within a few minutes he was complete enthralled with the game, yelling at the players and the refs, while she tried to keep up.
He glanced over at her once and laughed. She had her head cocked to one side, looking at the screen with a wide eyed look on her face. "Do you have any idea what's going on?"
She straightened her head and turned towards him. "Not really no." He laughed even harder and she felt her cheeks tinge pink.
"Its not too hard. The guys we're rooting for are the Blackhawks. See, that guy on the other team just tripped him and the REF DIDN'T CALL A FOUL!" He yelled at the Tv causing Kat to giggle.
"You're very in to this. Me? I'm a football girl."
He turned to look at her in semi shock. "Really? What team?" he was almost afraid to ask.
She grinned "Green Bay Packers." And he groaned .
"No, you live in Chicago! They're our enemy!" he ribbed her.
"Sorry, but I'm from Green Bay originally, and the history of their team fascinates me. Did you know that the residents of the city own the team?" her face lit up as she talked. "Yup they don't have an actual owner, like Jerry Jones owns the Dallas Cowboys. They sell stock in their team every so often, and the last time they did I got one. You're looking at a proud owner of a national football team!" she did a half bow on the couch and Kelly laughed and clapped. "Bet no one in Chicago can say that huh?"
Kelly had to admit that was pretty kick ass. He gazed at her, face flush but a huge smile on her face and he almost forgot why she was there. She was easy to talk to, and pretty, in a non traditional way. Her eyes were what drew him in though. Through all the sadness she has endured, they still sparkled, and they were a beautiful blue grey mixture. He had never seen eyes that color before. He heard the distant ping of a phone.
Kat groaned and rolled her eyes. She jumped up as fast as she could under the circumstances and checked . "Its not mine. I think he finally gave up. " she came and sat back down next to Kelly and he pulled his phone from his pocket.
"Oh, it's me. Just the guys checking in." She leaned over and looked at the message .
"You started a group message about me?" she wasn't sure if she should feel weirded out or happy.
Kelly laughed "Yeah it was just easier than getting a million separate ones." He showed her the phone . "Nothing bad I promise. They just wanted to see how you were feeling."
She shrugged. "Okay well, if you want to give them a play by play let them know I took my medicine and ate like a good girl and now I'm going to get a shower. Oh, can I use your shower ?" she smiled at him and he laughed.
"Of course." He pointed towards his bedroom "Through there."
"One more favor? I have no clothes besides the ones on me, and I'm ready to ditch them. Any spares from your ex roommate laying around?"
He shrugged " Her room was upstairs so I'll check while you're in the shower."
She bent down and kissed him on the cheek then padded off to his bathroom, smiling.
He watched her go, very aware of how good she looked walking away from him. He shook his head Can't think like that Kelly and made his way upstairs to Stella's old room. He felt weird being in here, he hadn't set foot in it since she left. He searched through the closet and drawers but didn't find any left behind items. He was making his way down stairs when he heard singing. Nothing he recognized, just notes. The got closer to the bedroom and he could hear her clearer. He had to stop and lean against the door frame so he could listen.
What would I do without your smart mouth
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
Got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you
Holy shit he thought she's good! He didn't want to scare her, so he crept into the bathroom and hoisted himself up onto the counter, waiting til she was done.
How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every move
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all, all of you
Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
I give you all, all of me
And you give me all, all of you
Kat turned the water off and opened up the shower door to find Kelly sitting there grinning . "Jesus Kelly what are you doing ??" he had his eyes covered with one hand holding a towel out to her with the other.
"I couldn't find any clothes in Stella's old room, but I've got plenty you can borrow for tonight." He felt her grab the towel from his fingers.
"Thanks ? Again I ask what are you doing in here. Oh good Lord you can open your eyes."
He grinned that adorable grin at her. "I heard you singing." He hopped down off the counter and stood in front of her, surveying the bruises. Some he had previously seen, some had been hidden.
"Oh, that. Sorry did I bother you? I just… like to sing." She ducked around him and walked into his bedroom with him in tow.
"No, you didn't bother me at all… you were really good. Is that what you do for a living?" he sat on the bed and pointed to his closet watching Kat retreat into it.
Kat snorted. "No, I don't really have a job. I mean, I guess I should probably get one…" she trailed off and Kelly lost what she was saying until she came out dressed in one of his t-shirts, holding the towel. "Ken basically took care of anything I needed." She looked down at the floor realizing how sad that sounded.
Kelly needed to look away, but he couldn't . Her skin was pink from the hot water, and it was a stark contrast to the purple marks he saw all over her legs and thighs. His temper flared and he had to fist his hands to stop from punching something . Kat could sense it. She tossed the towel in the hamper sitting in the corner of her room, and stood in front of Kelly in between his legs. "Listen, Kelly, I know it looks bad but believe me they fade." She grabbed his face with her hands trying to get him to look at her face instead of the bruises. "I say this from experience, in a few days they'll be gone and this will be a memory . " They stayed like that for a minute before he broke the silence.
"That doesn't make me feel any better. " He responded. "You shouldn't have to deal with this Kat, with him."
She nodded "I know." She wanted to tell him everything, about who she was, how she didn't want this life, she was being forced to be a part of it. She hated what Ken had done to her, time after time. The excuses she had to make of why she couldn't go somewhere, be around people… all of it. She felt tired. She checked the clock on his night stand. Her pain was actually manageable so she didn't want to take another pill. "How about we finish watching the game?" she changed the subject and went to walk away from Kelly when she felt him grab her hand pulling her back towards him.
"I want you to stay here. Til you get a game plan, okay? We can go tomorrow and get stuff from your place. "
She smiled and leaned down to kiss his cheek, but he turned his head and she hit his mouth instead. She felt a jolt of electricity run through her lips and she stepped back, holding her fingers to them.
"Hey, don't run away, I won't hurt you." He stood up and brought her closer to him. "I'm not him, that's for damn sure."
She smiled and nodded at him. In her mind she knew that. This man could never be like Ken. Here, she was safe.