It had been five weeks since Shay's last period. Well, had it been five weeks? Shay was counting backwards doubting her math. She couldn't be pregnant already, could she? People try to get pregnant for years, don't they? She would stop on the way home and get a few pregnancy tests. I'm sure this one will be negative, too soon, so no need to mention it to Kelly.
Shay sat in the bathroom looking at the plus sign on the little stick. She stared at it, her brain not accepting what her eyes were seeing. She peeled open another test. She must have done something wrong. She read the instructions again and followed them to the letter. Another plus sign. Oh my God, oh my God. Her hands were shaking so hard, she could barely text Kelly. When do you get off shift?
His answer was full of concern. What's wrong? Are you okay? Do I need to come home?
Everything is fine. Just wondering if I should wait up.
Not off till 9 am. Go to bed. Love you.
Could she wait until nine to tell him? She would have to. The excitement was too much. She slept off and on all night trying not to look at the clock. 2:00 am, 3:45 am... Shay decided that 9 would never get there. 9 eventually came and went, 10 rolled around and Shay was texting Kelly. No response. Okay, don't panic. If anything happened to Kelly, Dawson would have called, Chief, someone. A call comes in and you are stuck there two hours after your shift. This was torture.
Kelly strolled in around 10:30, big smile on his face. He took one look at Shay and knew something was up. His smile faded. "What's wrong? Are you okay? Talk to me!"
Shay's hair was a mess, dark circles under her eyes, but a huge smile took over half her face. She pulled out all the pregnancy tests and handed them to Kelly. The puzzled look on his face told her she may have to do some explaining.
"The plus sign means..." she hinted.
"Positive? Positive! You're pregnant? We're pregnant?" Kelly's face was a mixture of disbelief, excitement, and pure terror.
Shay jumped up in Kelly's arms and he swung her around kissing her face, little kisses all over her face. She was laughing and crying at the same time. This was the reaction she dreamed of, the reaction she knew would come from this man with a heart the size of a mountain, this man who let her in, first as friend then as lover.
"We're having a baby!" Kelly yelled, wanting the whole world to know.
The couple decided to keep the news quiet for at least a few more weeks. Shay had an appointment with her ob/gyn in three days, they knew waiting until after the first trimester was smart, also, Boden just got on everyone's ass about being too "close" at the station. They would wait.
Dawson knew within fifteen minutes, Casey about five minutes after that. Shay couldn't wait to tell her friend and spilled the news once they were alone in the ambulance.
Kelly saw Casey doing paperwork, sat down next to him, and simply said, "We're pregnant." He leaned back and smiled like he just won the lotto, waiting for his friend's reaction. Everyone in the station could hear a loud whoop coming from where the two lieutenants were sitting.
"Kelly, I'm sorry but I already told Gabby. It just kind of slipped out." Shay hoped he wouldn't be mad at her for breaking their agreement.
Kelly just laughed loudly and then chuckled, "Uh, yeah, I'm out too. I told Casey within the first thirty minutes. This news is too damn good to keep to ourselves. We need some good news around here. Hell, I even want to tell strangers!"
Their laughter was drowned out by the call for paramedics to a tenement in Washington Park, possible gang shooting. Kelly kissed Shay.
"Be careful." Kelly looked worried and mouthed the words, "I love you," as Shay and Dawson took off to their call. Shay smiled at Kelly and waved like she was leaving for church camp. How could someone so beautiful be so dorky? Kelly smiled to himself hoping their child was a replica of Shay and missed his side of the gene pool.
Shots fired on the second floor, one possible injury. Shay and Dawson were rushing up the stairs still talking babies, and morning sickness, and blue for boys, pink for girls, barely noticing the gun aimed at their faces as they opened the door. Dawson moved to the front, placing herself between her friend and the gun.
"We are here to help. Just put the gun down. We just want to help if someone's injured. Are you okay?" Dawson was using her calm voice and a disarming smile to get through to the gunman. Not much of a man stood in front of her. The kid couldn't be more than 14-years-old, shaking, a snarl forming from his mouth. The shaking was from whatever he was on, not from being afraid, or unfamiliar with holding a gun in his hand. No, the gun was a familiar accessory.
"Shut up, bitch! Get in and shut the door," the teen said with a smile on his face.
"We are going to back up and get out of your way," started Dawson pushing Shay backwards.
"Get in here NOW!" he yelled firing a shot past Dawson's ear, hitting the door only. Dawson felt Shay jump when the shot rang out, her own heart pounding through her chest.
"Okay, okay. Put the gun down. We're coming in." Dawson shut the door behind them still holding up both of her hands. "What do you want? We are just trying to do our jobs." She had a bad feeling about this kid. He seemed hard and didn't have any of the nerves that a kid should have when holding two people at gunpoint. No, this was a kid used to holding a gun at someone's face.
The men at Firehouse 51 heard the police chatter on the radio and knew shots had been fired. Kelly didn't say a word to anyone, no permission to leave was asked of Boden; he got into his car and tore off to the tenement. Shay and his baby needed him. He didn't care what he had to do to get them safe, he just knew it was happening. He was almost shaking with fury when he exited his car and headed to the building. Second floor, he had to get to the second floor. Police stopped him from entering.
"My girlfriend is one of the paramedics up there," Kelly pleaded. "You've got to let me go."
The word "girlfriend" felt so wrong coming from Kelly's mouth. It sounded trivial, so short term. But what could he say? The woman I love and value more than my life is up there? The woman carrying my baby, my world is up there? No, "girlfriend" would have to suffice for now.
"Lieutenant, we are getting her out of there. I promise. You need to move back and let us do our jobs." The officer clearly saw Kelly's uniform and was giving him the respect it afforded.
Shay's turn to try with their young kidnapper. "You don't need us. You can just walk out the front door. No questions asked."
"Bitch, you are my ticket out of here. Get up here! They won't let anything happen to that pretty face of yours." Shay moved toward the kid and he roughly grabbed her arm, stroking her face with the gun he had in his other hand. Tears came to her eyes as she tried to stay calm.
Dawson's eyes were filling up as she tried one last plea, "Take me instead! My brother is a cop. They won't let anything happen to me."
"Bitch, back up! WE have a bond," he said stroking Shay's face roughly and laughing. "Let's get the hell out of here." He led Shay out the door and slowly down the stairs. She was shaking now, one hand on her stomach. Do whatever it takes, she said to herself. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, gun to her head, she saw Kelly. He was being held back by a police officer, a look of pure anguish on his face.
The young gunman stumbled as he took a step forward, the gun lowered away from her face temporarily. She pushed him hard and tore herself away. Kelly watched in horror literally unable to do anything.
The gun went off as Shay tripped and fell into the street. Kelly ripped free from his captor and ran towards Shay. Not hearing the gunfire going on around him, not feeling bullets whirring by his head, he was locked into his path. He covered Shay with his body gently feeling her arms, shoulders, stomach for any wetness, the telltale sign of bleeding.
"Shay, talk to me! Are you okay?" He was frantic, too terrified to notice the gun battle was over. He pulled away afraid of what he might find. She looked up at him obviously in pain but forced a reassuring smile in her face.
Dawson was on them, pushing Kelly to the side. "Shay, where are you hurt? Let me see." She began scanning for blood and found none.
"My shoulder! Ahhh! I landed on it when I fell." Kelly could breathe again. Shay wasn't shot, she hadn't landed on her stomach. Thank God! He was holding her hand, stroking her head, trying to hold back the tears threatening to come to the surface. She needed strong right now. He could do strong.
"We're going to the hospital to get you all checked out. Then Kelly's taking you home to rest. Jesus, Shay, that was scary as hell." Dawson felt tears forming and couldn't push them down. Shay was looking at Kelly now, a quizzical look on her face. She had her hand on his arm, stroking it, trying to calm him down. She pulled her hand away and it was red. What was this, she thought, her mind not registering this new information.
"Severide, you're shot!" Dawson yelled the obvious directing her attention to her injured friend.
At the hospital, Shay had a dislocated shoulder, but no other injuries. The baby was fine. In fact she was sure the baby was perfect. Kelly, on the other hand, was not doing quite as well. He only had a flesh wound, but was giving the doctor hell about spending the night.
"I am leaving right now. This is called a scratch! I am not spending the night in here." He jumped off the examination table and headed to Shay. He held her tight and she thought he was never letting go.
"I'm okay. Just my shoulder, baby good... Say something, please." Shay looked at Kelly eyeing his arm skeptically.
"You are quitting your job. Tomorrow. This is not open for debate. This is happening and it's happening now. You cannot endanger your life or our baby's life for one more day."
Shay's mouth fell open but no words came out.