Warning - this chapter is a sad one, not the humor that's in the other chapters. It's my try at writing to an upcoming episode called A Coffin That Small (airing 3/27). It's what I wish would happen.

"Lieutenant, you okay? Hey, you alright?" asked Mills as he helped Kelly to a chair right by where he lay a minute earlier.

"Yeah, just great," muttered Kelly. "It isn't every day you get your ass kicked and have to have your five foot five, hundred and ten pound girl come to your rescue."

"You were hurt," protested Shay. "I didn't think about it. I just reacted. I'm sorry Kelly," Shay continued knowing Kelly's ego had been bruised as well as his body.

"Let's go home," said Kelly dejectedly. Casey and Boden came by to see if he was alright. Boden told Kelly to take a week off; this night just kept getting better and better.

Once at home, Kelly felt better. He iced his side and hip, took some pain medication, and forgot about his bruised ego. What did he have to be upset about? He had the girl of his dreams and he hadn't even been looking.

"Hey, Kel. You're not still mad at me are you?" asked Shay quietly as she laid in bed next to him.

"I wasn't mad Shay, just embarrassed. A guy is supposed to protect his girl. It's not really the other way around," replied Kelly as he rolled over to kiss the blonde. He knew he should just get some rest but when has he ever done what he was supposed to?

"I'm going to miss you at the station. I can't believe chief is making you take a whole week off," Shay said wide eyed.

"Yeah, it was my pathetic display that made him decide three days wouldn't be nearly long enough," laughed Kelly. "I'm surprised he didn't just fire my ass after seeing me try to defend your honor."

"He just saw how hurt you still are. You would have wiped the floor with that guy if you weren't injured. Hey, wait, I have an idea... I can use my vacation days and stay with you," said Shay with an excited look on her face.

"First off, I can't believe you just said 'wiped the floor' and secondly, you are not using vacation days for this! What if I want to take you on a real vacation in a few months? You are not using those days to babysit me," Kelly said getting up to take a quick shower. "I'll be fine on my own. It might actually give me the time to recover."

Shay waited as long as she could and then joined her man in the steaming water. Before they went to sleep that night, Shay thought Boden was on to something making Kelly stay home for a week. He definitely wasn't resting anything with her around. It had become impossible for her to stay away for more than a few minutes from this man who had been just a friend for so long. How strange that in the course of just a few days everything could change. Everything you were so certain of could be challenged. How things could change for the better when you didn't even realize you needed a "better."

As Shay walked into the station the next day, the theme from Rocky was booming loudly from the sound system. "Ha, ha, very funny guys!" shouted Shay over the music. Of course, Dawson was the first to greet her with a huge smile on her face.

"Let me just say that I had no idea you had been a wrestler in a previous life," laughed Dawson. "You turned all spider monkey on us, jumping on that guy's back. It was truly amazing," continued Dawson barely able to get out the words in between laughs. The others had joined them in the front applauding as Shay curtsied politely to her friends.

"Shay, in my office, now!" yelled Chief Boden, the music suddenly dying out.

Shay quickly entered Boden's office. "Shut the door," he commanded. "Now, I really DON'T care who or what you are dating. Your personal life is just that - personal. BUT when it affects my firehouse then I have a problem. Is your current situation going to affect this station in any way whatsoever?"

"No, sir," answered Shay looking straight at the chief.

"Good! That's what I want to hear. There will be no shenanigans in the equipment room or anything else that you think I don't know about. The first sign of your personal life affecting this house negatively and one of you will be out. I will transfer one of you so fast your head will spin. Do I make myself clear?" asked Boden.

"Yes, sir," replied Shay.

"Now, you and Severide are too valuable to this station to lose, so I'm glad to hear that you are going to keep it professional," said Boden softening his tone a little. "How is he doing anyways?"

"Better sir. Almost all healed," Shay said. "This week should be just what he needs."

"Glad to hear it. You're excused," finished Boden, point made.

Shay left his office feeling like she'd been reprimanded for something she hadn't even done.

The week went by so slowly Kelly thought he was going to go crazy or drive Shay crazy. They were both thrilled when the week was up and he was physically able to get back to work. His hip and side were still sore but it was nothing like it had been. He was at about 85% which was still better than most the guys on truck. He knew he was ready.

As Kelly walked into the station, his friends had a theme song for him also. Shania Twain's "Man, I Feel Like a Woman" was playing loudly. All the members of squad and truck were singing along as they greeted Kelly, giving him a hug or handshake to welcome the lieutenant back.

"Do I have something wrong with me if I say I have missed this?" laughed
Kelly as he gave Shay a quick one-armed hug, knowing the watchful eyes of chief were on them. He sat down to play a game of cards and felt so much calmer than he had the entire week of being home alone during the day at the apartment.

He hadn't been back for more than an hour when the alarm sounded calling for truck, squad and paramedics to an apartment fire. Getting back into a routine gave Kelly a comforting feeling and, yes, the excitement of a call felt like his routine. Kelly surveyed the apartment as it came into view. This was going to be a bad one he sensed as soon as the truck pulled up. People were screaming and trying to go back in...that could mean only one thing - others were trapped inside. As Kelly got out of the truck, he saw Shay and gave her a reassuring grin. There were several tenants injured, so the paramedics immediately got to work. There would be no more shared looks from the roommates. They were focused on their jobs with a laser like intensity...that is what Boden expected and that was what the two expected of themselves.

"Kelly, squad go all the way up to the fifth floor. Lady says her baby is still up there...newborn. Apartment 59 C, got it? 59 C. You are gonna have to move! This is a bad one. Casey, Mouch, Cruz, Mills, you contain this son of a bitch and leave an exit route for squad. We are all about saving lives...let's do it!" barked Boden as the men ran into the apartment.

Kelly and his team almost flew up to the fifth floor. Black smoke enveloped them getting thicker and thicker as they ascended. Once on the fifth, Kelly shouted at his team to begin checking the rooms for any other victims. He was heading straight for 59 C. The smoke was so thick he could barely see the apartment numbers on the doors. 59 A, 59 B, this next one had to be 59 C. He kicked down the door and began scanning the rooms, smoke stifling his breathing even with the mask on. No crib, no baby stuff anywhere, what the hell? He went back outside the door and saw it labeled 60 A. He looked across the hall and saw 59 C. Kelly cursed under his breath as he kicked down the door to 59 C. Once inside he found the baby's room immediately. The heat and smoke was turning his stomach. He knew it had been too long. It had taken too long. He reached in the crib and felt for something. He felt her right away...the limp body of a newborn. He told his crew he found her and ordered them to get out now. As Kelly ran down the steps, he felt no signs of life. He inhaled as deep a breath as he could then took off his mask and placed it on the baby's face.

"Never under ANY circumstances do you take off your mask. A dead fireman is helping no one. No matter how tempting it is to give a victim one quick breath, you never do it. Smoke inhalation occurs in seconds. Your fellow firefighters will be recovering two bodies instead of one." Kelly could hear the words of the instructor in one of his first classes to become a fireman. He remembered those words verbatim. Yet he felt compelled to give the little life he held in his arms the best chance possible.

He made it to the last steps and took a couple of small breaths. He could feel the burning in his lungs, hold your breath, a little bit longer, almost out. He was disoriented, chief was yelling at him to get out now, he thought he was heading to the front entrance, but it was so black, impossible to tell. Yes, it was the escape! As he stumbled through the doors he realized he had been taking full breaths now, for how long? He fell to the ground but somehow managed to cradle the tiny baby to feel none of his body weight. He wanted to cough, but nothing would come. He felt his chest rising and falling so rapidly, but it seemed no air would come. He saw Dawson take the baby from his arms, rip off his mask from the small face, and place her on the stretcher. Shay handed him an oxygen mask and said something. What was it? Her mouth was moving, but he heard nothing. He just nodded and tried to inhale from the mask. She rushed to help her partner. Casey was in his face now. He could hear his voice, but couldn't understand. Chief Boden was yelling at him, yelling something about breathing. He closed his eyes...so tired...need to rest.

Kelly came to in an ambulance, lying flat on his back, listening to unfamiliar voices. What were they saying? Who were these people? He expected to see Shay and Dawson, but it was two men who got in his face and spoke to him like he was three. "Hey, buddy. How ya doing? Stay with us okay? Just try to breathe normally." He felt his breaths rise and fall so quickly. He tried to concentrate on slowing it down but his body had other ideas. He grabbed for the mask. He had to ask about the baby. How was the baby? The same paramedic said to calm down and we would all check at the hospital. His condescending tone made Kelly want to scream, but that was definitely out of the question. He felt himself being rushed into some room and a woman's voice yelling out orders of a pulse oxi something, a bronchio something and a chest x-ray. That voice sounds familiar thought Kelly as he lost consciousness.

When he opened his eyes the next time, there was no mistaking the voice he heard - Leslie Shay's.

"Kel, oh my God! I thought you were dying. Dawson and I were so focused on the baby, and you nodded your head yes when I asked if you were alright. We had no idea you were in distress until Boden called for another ambulance. I love you. I am so sorr..." Shay's words tumbled out.

"The baby?" whispered Kelly.

Shay's tears were streaming down her face dropping on to Kelly's as she shook her head no. Kelly just closed his eyes and let weariness overtake him again.

The next time he opened his eyes he saw Casey's ex-fiancé Hailey looking at his chart. "Hailey," he said.

"Kelly, I'm glad you're awake. I'm sure you've figured out you have some pretty serious smoke inhalation. You sucked in quite a bit of nastiness. The good news is that your oxygen levels are rising. We didn't have to intubate with a breathing tube so your recovery will be quicker. I wish we were seeing each other under better circumstances," finished Hailey with a smile.

"How long will I have to be in here?" asked Kelly a little surprised he could speak a full sentence.

"A few days most likely. We'll continue with breathing treatments, oxygen, monitor your levels and all should be better in a few days," answered Hailey. "Shay was not happy with me when I kicked her out, so I'm going to get her now," said Hailey laughing.

"Thanks," said Kelly not really hearing any of what Hailey said. All his thoughts were on the baby who was dead. Gone. Never able to crawl, say Daddy for the first time, none of that.

"Hi Kel," said Shay softly as she entered the room. "Hailey said I could spend the night in a cot right here next to you. She has been great, she really went out on a limb..."

"When is the funeral?" interrupted Kelly thinking of that lifeless little baby. How he didn't save her. He hadn't been fast enough, good enough.

"It's tomorrow, but Hailey said she can't release you. I already asked because I knew you would raise holy hell about it. She explained all the complications that could come up and I think it's best you stay here," pleaded Shay.

"Okay," Kelly stated simply and closed his eyes.

The next morning Shay left early to shower and get dressed for the funeral - dress blues ordered by Chief Boden. Kelly kissed her goodbye. He had been silent all night and all morning. Shay was worried, but she knew she could get him to open up once they got home.

Once Shay took off, Kelly made a few calls, then started the paperwork to get himself released. There was no way in hell he was not going to be at that funeral. He couldn't do anything else for that baby girl, but he could be at her funeral. His neighbor dropped off his dress blues, the paperwork was almost finished to get out, and he had managed to take a quick shower without passing out. He felt like he was moving through molasses... everything in slow motion. The good news - he was moving.

"Kelly, I cannot agree to this!" began Hailey as she stormed into his room. "What the hell? You removed your own IV? I understand, well, I sort of understand, but you cannot leave right now. You are just getting back to normal oxygen levels."

"I am going whether you agree or not," stated Kelly flatly. "I promise I'll be back in three hours, tops. So are you going to fight me on this or help me with this tie?" asked Kelly.

Hailey knew she was not going to win. She had seen that look on Severide's face before and she knew it was a losing battle. Shay had told her about the baby and she knew Kelly felt he had to go.

Hailey worked on Kelly's tie, not saying a word. Finally, "TWO hours, tops. Okay? And Tell Casey I said hi, but don't say I asked about him," she added.

"You didn't ask about him, and you can say hi yourself. He's picking me up any minute," Kelly replied hoarsely.

As if on cue, Casey walked into Kelly's room spouting out words so quickly they sounded like one long sentence, no periods. "Shay is going to kill us both. I get it. I do probably more than anyone else... That's why I'm here," the last few words coming out slowly. Casey's eyes grew wider when the doctor turned around and it was his former fiancé Hailey.

"Hello Hailey. Um, how have you been?" asked the lieutenant awkwardly.

"Fine, Matt. And you."

"Great. Well, not really great. That was the wrong word. This situation is definitely not great. But me, personally, if that's what you're asking, then me, yes, I'm good." Matt babbled not really sure what he just said.

Silence.

"Let's go," croaked kelly breaking the silence. "Thanks for everything Hailey. I'll see you in a couple of hours."

"Yes, it's a date. Well, not a date. I mean I'll see you when you get back." Hailey smiled at them both and practically ran out of the room.

"That was awful," said Casey.

"Yeah, not your best moment," agreed Kelly.

Casey had only agreed to transport Kelly if he went to the burial only. Much to Casey's surprise, his friend had agreed readily. They pulled near the burial site and Kelly saw Shay first, then the parents of the baby girl. He got out of Casey's car and Shay began running toward him. To hell with Boden's demands. This was the man she loved. This was the man she wanted to share everything with. Yes, this was the man she wanted to have a baby with.

"They released you?" Shay questioned, eyes burning bright.

"Uh, yeah," began Kelly.

"Don't lie to me! Hailey already texted me that you have two hours that's it. And YOU," Shay said glaring at Casey, "We will talk later."

"Why do you always ask me a question that you already know the answer to?" asked Kelly his voice barely a whisper now. He began coughing violently and the anger in Shay's eyes turned to worry. If the others didn't know Kelly was coming they did now. Many eyes looked up the hill to where the trio was standing.

"It looks like its starting. Lets go," said Casey cutting both of them off.

They walked to the canopy where all of squad and truck stood somberly looking at the small coffin about to be lowered into the ground for eternity. Family members were crying quietly as the minister talked about baby Isabelle. That was her name, Isabelle. Kelly would have that name seared into his brain for the rest of his life. Isabelle.

Shay felt tears flowing down her face. The two paramedics had known the newborn was not going to make it the second they saw her face. They had diligently worked on her trying everything all the while knowing it was hopeless. Shay could only think of the baby she thought was going to be part of her family forever, Wesley. The baby she was going to watch growing up. That was not going to happen. Shaw and Dawson had to do everything they could to give this baby's parents the chance to watch their little girl grow up. They couldn't give up. It wasn't until they got her to the hospital and she had been pronounced dead did Shay accept that a newborn had died. It had left her with an empty space. She hadn't been given a second to mourn because that was when Boden's call came in about Kelly being transported to the ER. After the service, members of Station 52 went to the parents shaking hands or hugging with more tears being shed.

"Let's go up," said Shay.

"No, you go. I'll wait on that bench over there," Kelly said walking to the nearby bench.

"Come on, Kel. You need to," pleaded Shay.

"No! Just let me rest,"

Shay headed to the parents and quickly gave the mom a hug. No words needed, both women's eyes said enough. She walked back to the bench and Kelly barely looked up. They both watched the parents walk back to the grave, now devoid of people.

"I'll be right back," Kelly softly spoke and with one squeeze of Shay's hand he left. Shay watched as he headed down towards the parents.

"Mr., Mrs. Santiago, I just wanted to say I am so sorry about your little girl, about Isabelle. I was the lieutenant of squad, I brought her out..." Kelly said quietly, tears forming in his eyes threatening to betray the calm he portrayed on the outside.

The mom just hugged him for a good minute before speaking. "Lieutenant, your chief told us everything you did for our baby, violating procedure, doing everything you could. Thank you," she said sobs breaking from her throat.

Mr. Santiago came forward, tears coming from his face. "Lieutenant, thank you for bringing my girl out. For not letting my baby burn, for not letting the fire take her..." sobs escaped his throat. The men embraced for a few more seconds before Kelly felt a soft touch on his shoulder.

Shay guided him back to her car knowing he had to get back to the hospital.

"Shay, a coffin that small...it shouldn't exist. There shouldn't be a reason for it. A coffin that small...it's just not right," Kelly said fully breaking now. He let it all out, not crying like that since Andy had died, not crying like that since he had been an eight-year-old boy realizing his father was not coming back home.

When they reached the hospital, it was silent in the car. Kelly breathed in as heavy a breath as he could.

"Leslie Shay, I want us to have a baby. A baby made of you, of me. A baby we will love for the rest of our lives," said Kelly Severide to the woman he loved.