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Changes

It had been a month and a half since Casey had his accident.

After a few weeks off, he was ready to get back to work. Dawson was getting ready to start at the fire academy, where Kelly was going to teach a class starting tomorrow. Shay would be getting a new partner on the next shift because Dawson was leaving. Lacey was now four and a half months pregnant and there was no hiding her showing now. In the time since the break in, they had repaired the apartment and got the restraining order filed. Since then, there was not a single incident with Eric. Kelly woke up that morning, seeing Lacey getting ready for work.

"Morning," he smiled sleepily at her from their bed.

"Morning," she said back, going and sitting on his side of the bed.

"You're up early," Kelly commented, taking her hand.

"My back's hurting," Lacey explained with a shrug. "Makes it hard to sleep."

"Nothing else is bothering you?" Kelly asked curiously.

"You mean, did I get any phone calls in the middle of the night?" Lacey asked lightly, lacing her fingers with his. "That stopped with the phone number change."

"I just worry," Kelly reminded her, sitting up a little against the pillows.

"I know," Lacey nodded in agreement, squeezing his hand. "But, it's been weeks." She bit her lip. "I think we're ok."

"I'm always gonna worry," Kelly told her.

"I know," Lacey half smiled now. "But everything's ok right now." She smiled bigger. "Enjoy the quiet."

"I love quiet," Kelly said, sitting up to kiss her now, though the quiet put him more on edge as he waited for something to happen.

"Hey," Kelly greeted Casey with a smile as he came out into the common room. "Good to have you back buddy."

"Good to be back finally," Casey agreed, taking a seat.

"Dawson's starting at the academy today, right?" Kelly asked, sipping his coffee. He was going to have Dawson in the class he was teaching, starting tomorrow.

"Yeah," Casey nodded. "She's nervous, but I know she's looking forward to it." He was quiet a moment. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Kelly nodded. "What's up?" Kelly wondered if it had something to do with his injury. After all, Kelly had to take some time off after he hurt his neck and shoulder last year and it certainly took some time to adjust.

"How long was it before you asked Lacey to move in?" Casey asked curiously.

"Are you going to ask Dawson to move in?" Kelly grinned.

"I just don't want to freak her out, if it's too soon," Casey was saying.

"No," Kelly shook his head. "If it feels right, then it is." He shrugged. "Besides, me and Lacey were only an official couple for maybe a month before she moved in with me and Shay."

"Ok," Casey nodded in agreement. "Thanks." Kelly nodded. "How is Lacey?"

"She's good," Kelly nodded. "She has a doctor's appointment tomorrow after I'm done with my class."

"And, you haven't heard anything from that Eric guy, right?" Casey asked curiously.

"Nothing," Kelly shook his head. "Is it weird that freaks me out?"

"You've got two girls to take care of, so no," Casey assured him. "I'm just glad everything is ok." He smiled. "That guy would have a whole fire house to deal with if something happened."

"Yeah," Kelly agreed. "Th..." He trailed off as Lacey came rushing in from outside, or at least as fast as she could move these days. "Lace?"

"Hey," Lacey said as she came closer.

"Are you ok?" Kelly asked worriedly as she came over to his chair. "Why aren't you at work?"

"I'm fine!" she said quickly, grinning as she grabbed his hand and placed it on her stomach. "I just wanted you to feel this."

"She's kicking?" Kelly asked, feeling his daughter move. "Jeez Lace," he laughed. "You almost gave me a heart attack." He had been worried at first, but was thrilled that she came now with the news that their child was kicking for the first time.

"I'm sorry," she laughed.

"So, wait," Casey said now. "If you're here, does that mean there's a room full of unattended first graders somewhere?"

"With finger paint," Lacey joked. "I have a free period right now," she was saying. "But I do have to get going." She kissed Kelly once. "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye," Kelly laughed, watching her leave. As Lacey was leaving, she spotted Katie talking to Otis and she smiled. She could tell from the few times Katie was over there cooking and she was visiting that Otis had a crush on her. Looking at Katie now, Lacey could tell it was mutual.

"Oh, hey Lacey," Katie smiled now. "I was just dropping off cookies." She waved. "See you Friday?"

"Yep," Lacey smiled back as Katie said goodbye to Otis before heading out to work. Lacey was smirking at Otis now, walking over to him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Otis asked her.

"Just be careful," Lacey warned him. "I've been Katie before, ya know, with the whole Kelly chasing away guys I dated thing."

"He couldn't have been that bad," Otis tried to reason, though it was to make him feel a little better.

"Ah, probably not as bad now," she said lightly. "Him and Andy used to egg each other on." She thought on it. "Pretty sure they threatened one guy with a chain saw."

"Seriously?" he asked in disbelief.

"It was Halloween," she shrugged. "...I think." She was having fun teasing him about his crush on Katie, even if it was a little mean.

"Hey, uh, Lacey?" Otis stopped her from leaving. "I was going to ask Kelly if it was ok to ask Katie out. Um..."

"Want me to talk you up first?" she offered and he nodded; she smiled. "You don't need it." She nodded over to where Katie had just left. "And I think she really likes you."

"Really?" he asked.

"Just be careful," she teased him before leaving the firehouse now. "Because I love Katie. And if you hurt her, I'll kill you."

"Understood," Otis nodded now.

The next day, Kelly picked up Lacey from the school after his class so he could take her to the doctor. They were excited for this appointment since the baby had recently started moving. They were going to find out the gender officially, even though they spent the last four months preparing for a girl based on Dawson's ring test prediction.

"Everything's good?" Kelly asked as usual at Lacey's weekly doctor appointments.

"Perfect," Dr. Hooper smiled. "I see your little girl has started moving."

"So, she's officially a girl?" Lacey laughed, looking at the ultrasound still.

"Yes," her doctor laughed. "You're going to have a daughter."

"Thank God," Kelly laughed now and Lacey looked over at him. "Between Shay and your mom we already have everything pink."

"True," Lacey laughed in agreement, taking his hand now as they looked over to the ultrasound again, able to hear their baby's heartbeat.

That Friday night, Dawson, Shay, Katie, and Lacey all had planned a girls' night. The four of them weren't really sure what to do though, having already exhausted dress shopping as well as other wedding plans for now. None of the movies in theaters looked good and it wasn't like Lacey could go to a bar anymore. With a new craving kicking in though and a convenience store down the street, Lacey had a new idea.

"This is probably the best girls' night ever," Dawson said, the four of them sitting in a line; Dawson, Shay, Lacey, and Katie. They sat on the longer end of the sectional couch, each with their own flavor of ice cream and eating right out of the carton. With Kelly out, they were having their get together at his and Lacey's place.

"Easily," Lacey agreed.

"Is the baby kicking now?" Shay asked, disappointed she hadn't been around when the baby was kicking and not having felt it yet.

"I'll tell you when she is," Lacey promised, laughing a little.

"I can't believe you're having a baby in five months," Katie shook her head, though smiling excitedly. "I'm gonna be an aunt!" The more time she spent with her brother and the others, the more she felt she fit in with them. The girls made her feel really welcome and she even had a date the next night with Otis.

"That's crazy," Dawson nodded in agreement.

"I can't believe you're moving in with Casey," Lacey said back with a smile, with Dawson telling them the news on their way back with their ice cream.

"Yeah, seriously," Shay agreed. "He asked you last night?"

"When I got back from the academy," Dawson said with a slight sigh.

"What was that?" Lacey asked, Shay looking at Dawson curiously as well.

"I don't know," she shrugged, twirling her spoon in her ice cream. "It's just...does Matt seem different to you guys at all?"

"I haven't really seen him," Lacey told her, looking at Shay.

"Ah, a little edgy I guess," Shay nodded. "But, I think that's normal with him just getting back to work after all this time. Coming back from an injury like that is going to make him tense, right?"

"Probably," Dawson agreed, though he seemed all around tense and not just at work; she wanted to change the subject. "So, how's your new partner?"

"Yeah, do we like her?" Lacey chimed in, taking a bite of her ice cream.

"Eh," Shay shrugged.

"What's eh?" Katie asked.

"Eh is she's nice to everyone but me," Shay rolled her eyes. "Made some comment about me being gay."

"Oh, so we hate her," Lacey said now.

"Yeah, seriously," Dawson agreed.

"No, guys really," Shay shook her head. "It's nothing I can't handle." Something still seemed to be bothering her.

"What else?" Dawson asked now, reading her clearly.

"This lawyer came by the house," Shay explained. "I guess...Daryl left everything to me."

"Oh wow," Lacey gasped and Dawson was silent with surprise. Katie didn't say anything, having only heard a little about the incident with Daryl since she had just started spending time with them around that time. She knew that it was bad though and that it was something Shay was still having some trouble with.

"Yeah," Shay sighed, sticking her spoon in her ice cream, giving up on it as this took away her hunger. "I guess I have to go over there, sort everything out."

"Do you want us to come with you?" Lacey asked and Dawson nodded in agreement.

"Really?" Shay asked.

"Yeah, how about tomorrow?" Dawson offered now.

"Thanks you guys," Shay said appreciatively. "Can we talk about something else now?" she half laughed.

"How's Molly's?" Katie jumped in, asking Dawson but Shay and Lacey were both shaking their heads. "What?"

"It's ok," Gabby assured her. "It's just that...we're having some trouble with the bank. We have to come up with a lot of money by the end of the week."

"Does anyone have any good news?" Shay asked now.

"I have a date tomorrow," Katie grinned now.

"With who?" Dawson asked.

"Otis," Katie smiled.

"Yay," Lacey teased her, clinking spoons with her.

"Finally," Shay commented now. "He's only had a crush on you for two months."

"He's sweet," Katie said.

"He is really nice," Shay nodded, the other girls agreeing.

"What are you guys doing?" Kelly asked, coming into the apartment now. It had gotten later than the girls thought, since Kelly had been out at Molly's celebrating with the other guys since Mills got his recent promotion onto rescue squad.

"Girls night," Lacey answered with a mouthful of ice cream.

"You want some?" Shay offered, holding hers over the back of the couch for him.

"Sure," he shrugged, taking it.

"Wow, it's late," Katie said, getting up now, none of them noticing the time.

"C'mon, I'll drive you home," Dawson offered, getting up as well. "Shay, you coming?"

"I'm not leaving till I feel that baby kick," Shay protested, making them laugh. Katie and Dawson told everyone goodbye, heading out of the apartment now.

"Hey Kel," Lacey said as he joined her and Shay, the others gone.

"Hm?"

"Have you noticed Casey acting weird?" Lacey asked now.

"A little," Kelly nodded, having heard some of the other guys talking about Casey's behavior on a few calls.

"Maybe you should talk to him," Shay said now, both her and Lacey worried about Casey and Dawson. "Since, ya know, what happened last year with you."

"It's like you guys have an injury club," Lacey commented.

"Worst membership ever," Kelly said lightly. "I'll talk to him though." Both girls nodded appreciatively.

"Ooo, baby's kicking," Lacey said now. Kelly reached instinctively, but Shay got there first.

"Me first," Shay laughed.

The next afternoon, Lacey and Dawson went with Shay to Daryl's apartment. Neither of them said anything, wanting Shay to come to them to talk about it when they were ready. Going into the apartment, the looked around quietly. The papers were there on the table, left by the lawyer for Shay to look through. Dawson moved to rearrange the pillows on the couch, covering up the blood so Shay wouldn't see.

"What's it say?" Lacey asked Shay as she looked through the papers.

"Ah, that this all will total out to about 40,000 dollars," Shay said in amazement.

"Wow," Dawson commented now.

"Yeah, you want it?" Shay asked.

"What?" Dawson asked in confusion.

"To save your bar," Shay clarified. "I don't want the money, it should go to help something."

"Oh my God, Shay...I..."

"Just take it," Shay laughed, then noticed Lacey holding her abdomen. "What's going on?"

"I don't know," Lacey winced, holding her stomach. "It, ah..." She grimaced. "Doesn't feel right."

"Hey, it's ok," Dawson quickly reassured her, both her and Shay going over. "Look, when my sister in law was pregnant, she got weird pains all the time."

"Really?" Lacey asked.

"Yeah," Dawson nodded, being honest. "We'll get you to the hospital just in case, but I'm sure it's fine."

Kelly and a few of the other guys were out at the boatyard, working on a project with Casey. The more he watched his friend, the more he did notice a change in Casey's behavior. He was a lot more on edge, a lot more easily agitated. He hadn't told the girls, but Casey had admitted to memory loss both before and after the accident, which concerned him even more.

"Hey, Casey?" Kelly got his attention as he walked by. "Can we talk a second?"

"Sure," Casey shrugged. "What's up?"

"Are you sure you're doing ok?" Kelly asked and Casey sighed, tired of hearing this. "I'm sorry man, but I pushed myself back too soon after an injury."

"My neck isn't broken," Casey said like it was obvious.

"No, but it's your head," Kelly said back. "Look, I could have lost my job. I was pushing everyone away, I almost lost Lacey. Is it really worth it?" Casey didn't say anything. "Just tell Dawson what you told me," he said, his phone ringing now in his pocket. "Hello?"

"Kelly, it's Shay," she said quickly; her tone immediately worried him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"You gotta come to the hospital," Shay told him now.

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