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i know it's been a little while, i've had some writer's block. and i'm so sorry! :( but i hope you like this! :)

Face Off

Shay was half asleep on the couch, waiting for Erin to get back, waiting for her in her apartment. The last few weeks had been crazy, the situation with Eric spiraling even further out of control as his family was now involved. Even though Eric was in jail, his cousin Vince was still out there and Erin was trying to track him down now. It had just started off as threats, but now he had dragged Katie into the middle of the conflict, harming her in the process.

"Hey," Erin woke her up, leaning over the back of the couch.

"Hey!" Shay said quickly, sitting up and kissing her once. Erin smiled, but it was only a half smile, Shay could tell there was bad news. "What?" she asked, reading her face. "You couldn't find Vince?"

"We did," Erin nodded. "Brought him in and everything, but um..." She shook her head as she trailed off. "The family must know someone high up in the department, they made us let him go." Shay's jaw dropped.

"They can't do that!" Shay argued. "What about what he did to Katie?" Erin sighed, there wasn't anything she could do about it. "Kelly is going to lose it."

3 weeks ago - the black out

Kelly only saw red as he went out to the common area to find Eric. He was absolutely furious that he was at the house and couldn't believe he was actually stupid enough to show up there. But then, at the same time, he was grateful for this chance. As he came through the door, he noticed some of the guys shuffling people out of the common room, in case this confrontation got out of hand; someone had already gone to call the cops.

"You can't stay here," Boden was telling him, keeping his voice calm but he was very firm.

"The power is out in the whole neighborhood," Eric reasoned. "Everyone got invited to stay here. You can't keep me from the only safe place I can stay."

"We can if one of our guys has a restraining order on you," Casey snapped at him.

Eric didn't get another word in as Kelly grabbed him by the shoulder, turning him around and smashing his fist into his face. The first punch was gratifying as he saw Eric stumbling back to gain his balance, but it wasn't enough for Kelly. And, with Eric being the same size and build as Kelly, he certainly expected a fight back; and that was what he got.

Eric took a swing back at Kelly, but managed to miss. Kelly grabbed him, attempting to shove him over towards the door to get this outside, but Eric wrestled back against his grip, eventually slamming Kelly against the counter. With all the pushing and shoving, Casey got knocked back and hit his head. With Kelly forcing Eric over towards the door, a few of the other guys followed to make sure the fight didn't back track and come back inside, one of the others helping Casey up. No one stepped in between Kelly and Eric's fight; Kelly was doing fine, and more than that, they hoped Eric got his ass handed to him.

Taking a hold of Eric by his shirt, Kelly threw him out into the snow, but that wasn't the end. Eric got back up and fought back against Kelly, the two of the wrestling to the ground where Kelly eventually gained the upper hand, holding him down with one hand while he curled the other into a fist and punched him in the face two more times.

"Kelly, hey!" Antonio was saying, having gotten Clarke to help him in prying Kelly off of Eric now. Erin had brought the car around to the side of the firehouse, a little shocked at not only the amount of blood on Eric, but also in the snow. Antonio was getting Eric off the ground, him and Erin having to take him to the hospital before they could arrest him now.

"If I see you again Eric, I swear," Kelly was saying, though Clarke started edging him back towards the door.

"Kel, c'mon..."

"Come near her again and see what happens!" Kelly shouted as the police car drove away, the door to the firehouse closing now as everyone was back inside. Kelly followed the trailed of blood left from Eric's broken nose from the side entrance back to the main room, where Boden was, as well as Shay; Lacey had sent her out to see what was happening, wanting to know if Kelly was ok.

"Oh my God, Kelly," Shay said, seeing the blood on the floor, him, and his scrapped up knuckles. They were going to have to get the room back together before the people staying at the house came back in, a few things being knocked over or broken during the fight; Kelly looked to Boden now.

"Chief, I-" He started off, almost apologetic. He wasn't sorry for what he did to Eric, but he did feel bad for where it happened.

"Not a word," Boden told him. "You were doing what you had to in order to protect your family, anyone else here would have done the same thing." He nodded at Shay. "Get your hand checked out, then as soon as the power's back, get you and your fiancee home."

"Mmm, it's still freezing in here," Lacey sighed as they got back to the apartment the next morning, the power coming back in the middle of the night. Kelly's hand was all right for the most part, just a few bruises and scrapes. Shay had come back with them, worried about both Kelly and Lacey; one was still recovering from surgery and the other one almost broke their hand.

"It should start warming back up soon," Kelly assured her, draping his jacket around her shoulders, even though she still had hers on while he went to adjust the thermostat.

"Are you sure you guys don't need anything?" Shay was asking as Lacey slowly sat down on the couch.

"No, Shay," Lacey half laughed. "We're both fine, you should go call...Erin!" Erin came by the apartment, letting herself in as the door had been left slightly ajar. "Hey, what's up?"

"I just wanted to come by and give you guys an update," Erin told them as Kelly was taking the blanket off the back of the couch for Lacey. "Eric's nose is broken, and he's got a concussion." She looked at Kelly seriously. "You're lucky no one can drag you in for assault."

"But, he's ok?" Shay asked and Erin nodded.

"Since Eric was violating the restraining order, Kelly was acting in defense of himself and Lacey," Erin assured them. "And between that, the breaking and entering last month, and the gun we found in his car...you guys aren't going to have to worry about him for awhile."

"Thanks Erin," Kelly told her appreciatively and she nodded.

"No problem," Erin said back. "Let me know if you guys need anything, all right?"

"Well, we drove Shay here," Lacey said now. "So, she probably needs a ride home." Both girls laughed, shaking their heads at her.

"You're the worst," Shay laughed at Lacey, kissing her cheek before grabbing her jacket. "Call me," she urged. "Ok?"

"You guys should probably just get breakfast too!" Lacey called after them as the door shut, leaving her and Kelly alone.

"You have to be the least subtle person that I have ever met," Kelly laughed, taking a seat next to her on the couch and spreading the blanket over their legs.

"Says this guy," Lacey commented sarcastically, taking his and and looking at his banged up knuckles before kissing them. "You're sure you're all right?"

"Yeah," Kelly nodded reassuringly, taking his hand back and flexing it a little. "Just wanted to keep my girls safe," he said, kissing her once. "I'd break my hand if I had too."

"We'd rather you didn't," Lacey said lightly, kissing him, then leaning against his chest as he put his arms around her.

"We don't have to worry about him any more baby," Kelly promised, kissing her head. "It's over."

Three weeks passed and everything was seemingly over. With Eric in jail and waiting to go on trial, there wasn't anything he could do anymore to disrupt Kelly and Lacey's lives. Lacey was now recovered from her surgery and had her stitches out, and Kelly's hand was healed. And, much to Lacey's delight, Erin and Shay were getting along great. Katie and Otis, of course, were as sweet as ever.

The friend that Lacey was worried about now though was Dawson, who had come over to the Dardens' house that afternoon. That evening, Mrs. Darden was having a baby shower for her daughter, who was due in four and a half months. While Sarah had run out to get cake for that night, Dawson was decorating and refusing to let Lacey help. Lacey wouldn't have minded so much if Dawson actually talked to her during the process.

"So, is everything good with Casey?" Lacey was asking now, pretty much trying to guess what was bothering her.

"He said his check up was fine," Dawson nodded, smiling nicely but Lacey could tell it was forced as she hung up one side of the banner.

"No bar problems?" Lacey asked.

"Not since Shay came in as a partner," Dawson smiled. "She did get tipped with hockey tickets though the other night, did she tell you that?"

"Yeah," Lacey laughed as Dawson moved to hang up the other side. "So, how's school?" Dawson was silent now so Lacey figured that this was it. "I bet it's not as bad as you think," Lacey immediately assured her and Dawson looked at her appreciatively.

"Thanks, but ah, it is," Dawson sighed, going to sit next to her friend now that everything was up the way Sarah had asked. "We have this physical exam that we have to finish in seven minutes." Lacey nodded. "I keep finishing it around seven twenty."

"Oh," Lacey nodded, not sure what to say. After all, she knew those twenty seconds were a huge deal. "Well, when's your test?"

"Tomorrow," Dawson said. "And if I fail, I'm out." She noticed Lacey hesitating to say anything. "You don't have to say anything," Dawson said lightly. "It's fine."

"Maybe Casey can give you some advice," Lacey offered. "Or Kelly, or all the other firefighters you know," she laughed now.

Kelly had picked up an extra shift that night, having Lacey stay with her parents after her baby shower. Things were a little tight and, with both baby and wedding coming up soon, they needed the money. Lacey's recent trip to the hospital had set them back, but the only thing Kelly thought coming out of that was that he was glad both she and Zoe were all right.

He was happy to take care of Lacey while she was pregnant and he was enjoying this time, but he couldn't help but be eager for Zoe to come, especially after all the anxiety they were both having during this pregnancy; that was normal, given the last one and everything that had happened. Hermann had told him though once the baby was born there was a whole different level of parental nerves that Kelly couldn't even imagine yet.

"What are you doing here?" he heard Katie laughing, coming in with a container of cookies and a pink gift bag. He had been sitting at the card table with a few of the different guys that were on squad on the other shift.

"I could ask you that," Kelly laughed, getting up to hug his sister. "You on your way to the shower?"

"I was," Katie nodded. "Then, I saw your car outside, I didn't think you were on shift."

"I'm picking up a couple of extra ones," Kelly said and she nodded. She smiled big at him.

"Wanna see what I got Zoe?" Katie asked excitedly.

"Sure," Kelly laughed as she set the cookies down, opening the bag and pushing the tissue paper aside so she could pull out the little white onesie. In the middle there was a cartoon fire truck and above it read My Daddy's A Hero.

"I think it was probably for a boy," Katie continued, holding it up with one hand and pointing at the big truck on the middle. "But, I figured it was appropriate."

"That's really nice Katie," Kelly told her appreciatively as she put it back in the bag. "And cute, I'm sure Lacey will love-"

"Are you Kelly Severide?" some guy interrupted him, coming in through the large garage door and walking by the truck, coming over to the table.

"I am," Kelly said, not sure who this was or what he was doing here, though he did instinctively step in front of Katie. "Can I help you with something?"

"My name's Vince Keeler," he explained to him. "I'm Eric's cousin."

"Oh," Kelly nodded now. "...ok?" He wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean to him.

"I need you and your girl to drop the charges on him," Vince told him and Kelly half laughed, thinking this was some kind of joke.

"That's not going to happen," Kelly said as if it were obvious and it should have been.

"Do you know how much time he's going to get?" Vince asked now. "He's got priors and-"

"It's probably not as much time as he deserves," Kelly stopped him now.

"I'm not going to let him get put away because of you and that bitch," Vince said.

"Hey," Kelly stopped him, getting really angry now. "She's my fiancee, so I would watch your mouth." Vince just rolled his eyes. "And your cousin is the one that went after her, called her all hours of the night, and trashed our apartment. And that's not even mentioning the gun they found in his car," Kelly added on now. "So, unless you want me to toss you out on your ass like I did to him, I suggest getting the hell out of here."

"You're going to be sorry about this," Vince said as he was backing away, turning to go.

"I'm shaking," Kelly commented sarcastically under his breath, not seeing this kid as being much to be afraid of.

Lacey's baby shower went well, with all of her friends coming. Even Heather had managed to make a weekend trip up to Chicago, bringing the boys with her of course. They weren't too happy about the baby shower, so Lacey's father took them out to a movie while the girls played games and opened presents. With most of her friends leaving now, her close ones stayed behind. Heather, Erin, Shay, and Dawson were all there, as well as her mom, though she had since gone up to bed. The girls were all sitting around, talking all things baby.

"Zoe Shay?" Erin said. "That's so cute." She was sitting next to Shay, looking at her and smiling. "You're not joking around with this godmother business, are you?"

"After the I heart my godmother bib," Dawson joked, pulling it off a pile of baby clothes and toys that came from the shower. "I'm gonna say no." The girls all laughed.

"So, almost four months Lace," Heather grinned at her. "You excited?"

"Very," Lacey nodded, then laughed. "I'll be happy when I'm not having all these weird cravings," she joked.

"What is it this time?" Shay laughed.

"I think I want a breakfast burrito," Lacey said, hearing her phone ringing next to her.

"I doubt you'll find one at ten at night," Erin pointed out with a laugh.

"Maybe I can make Kelly bring me one tomorrow after his shift," Lacey said as he was the one calling her, hitting answer.

"I'll make you one now," Shay said, getting up from the couch.

"Maybe I should have Zoe with you," Lacey laughed, putting the phone to her ear.

"Excuse me?" Kelly laughed, then he thought about it. "Shay?"

"You know us so well," she smiled. "She's making me a breakfast burrito."

"I obviously can't compete with that," he joked. "How was the shower?"

"It was good," Lacey nodded, as Erin was going into the kitchen now to help Shay. She felt Zoe kicking, resting a hand on her stomach happily. "How's your shift going?"

"All right," Kelly nodded, leaving out the incident from before. "Did you like the present Katie got?"

"What?" Lacey asked in confusion.

"She stopped by and showed me," Kelly explained, wondering why she was acting weird.

"No, Kelly," Lacey shook her head. "Katie never showed up."

"What?" Kelly asked in concern.

"I figured she was sick or something, I never got to call her," Lacey went on. She stopped, looking to Dawson and Heather. "Neither of you heard from Katie, right?" They both shook their heads.

"I'll ask Shay and Erin," Dawson offered, going into the kitchen to find out. Kelly had an immediate sinking feeling in his stomach.

"Can you get Erin?" Kelly asked Lacey now.

It was two days before they found Katie. Kelly, growing frustrated with CPD and their efforts, went to find Katie on his own. Learning where she was being kept, he called Erin. With a few other officers, they went to the warehouse to find her, Kelly's heart immediately breaking at the sight of her. She was all beat up, curled up in a ball out of fear. When she saw Kelly and he knelt next to her, she clung to him like her life depended on it. They took her to the hospital, where Shay brought Lacey to meet them, waiting in the hall while the others were in Katie's room talking.

"It was that guy from the house the other day," Katie was telling Kelly.

"You're sure?" Kelly asked and she nodded.

"Can you tell me what his name is?" Erin asked; though Kelly had told her about the confrontation, she needed to hear it from Katie.

"Vince Keeler," Katie said, her eyes welling up. "I, um, saw him when..."

"When what?" Kelly asked and Katie just looked between him and Erin; she couldn't bear to tell him what happened to her.

"Hey Kel," Lacey said softly, resting a hand on his shoulder. "I think Katie should probably tell Erin what happened." He got the hint.

"Yeah, ok," Kelly nodded, getting up from his seat by Katie's bed, kissing her hand. "We'll be here if you need us, all right?"

"Ok," Katie nodded. "Lacey."

"Hm?"

"Can you try my mom again," Katie asked with a shaky voice. "Please?"

"Yeah, absolutely," Lacey nodded, following Kelly into the hall and pulling the door shut behind her. Out in the waiting room, Shay was sitting alone, looking nervous as she waited for any sort of news.

"Where the hell is her mom?" Kelly grumbled under his breath.

"She might be stuck in traffic," Lacey reasoned gently, but it wasn't any use. Kelly wasn't angry with Mrs. Nolan though, it was obviously over what happened. Instead of saying anything, Kelly just kicked a nearby plastic chair.

"Is she ok?" Shay asked worriedly; Kelly looked like he might cry now too while he paced the waiting room.

"She's beat up," Lacey answered quietly, sitting next to Shay and taking out her phone, but Mrs. Nolan was already coming by. "She..." She stopped when she saw Katie's mom. "Mrs. Nolan, hi, she's-"

"You," Mrs. Nolan said, looking at Kelly and Lacey. "Everything was going just fine for Katie until she started spending time with all of you." By now she had heard that it was a relative of Lacey's ex-boyfriend that had done this to Katie, to get some kind of revenge for his cousin being in jail.

"We're the ones that were here for her now," Kelly pointed out before Mrs. Nolan went storming back the hall to her daughter's room.

"Kelly," Lacey started off. She rarely saw him like this, so upset.

"She's not wrong," Kelly shook his head, sitting in the row of chairs across from Lacey and Shay. "This is my fault."

"You had no idea what that guy was going to do," Shay said, all of them knowing about the confrontation at the firehouse.

"After everything with Eric, shouldn't I have?" Kelly snapped at her. "I'm gonna find him and-"

"Kelly," Lacey tried to stop him now and he just looked at her, both sad and angry.

"If it was you," Kelly pointed out. "If it was Shay, if anything ever happens to Zoe, I-"

"Ok," Lacey agreed quietly, knowing he was right. "Just...be careful."

While Lacey understood Kelly's anger and frustration, she was happy to hear that Erin had found Vince first and arrested him; she didn't want Kelly hurt, as much as she'd like to see Vince suffer. Kelly and Lacey were at the hospital now, checking in on Katie, who was telling them that she was going to be spending some time away from Chicago. Shay had been there, but went home after getting very little sleep to wait on Erin. When she came back to the apartment though, Erin brought with her the unfortunate news that Vince was being let go because his family knew someone high up in the department.

"Kelly is going to lose it," Shay was saying as Erin came around to sit on the couch with her. "Wait," she said, really panicking now. "Eric's not-"

"No, no," Erin assured her quickly, resting a hand over hers. "The case against Eric is solid. They have his finger prints at the apartment, Lacey's phone records, plus with his history and the weapons charge, no way they can let him go."

"Then, why Vince?" Shay asked in frustration and Erin sighed. "I'm sorry, I just-"

"No, it's ok," Erin promised her. "They're saying that Katie couldn't have possibly made the ID and with there being no other evidence..."

"God, is this really happening?" Shay complained, rubbing her forehead.

"I'm sorry," Erin told her genuinely. "I'm going to do whatever I can, but it's going to take time."

Hopefully not too much time, Shay thought to herself as she could just picture Kelly losing it over this news.

thanks for reading! :) i really hope you liked it, again so sorry for the wait! you're all so great and i love hearing your feedback, so please let me know what you think! :) and again, sorry, more soon! (sooner than last time i certainly hope lol)