The next day, Kelly marched into Chief Boden's office. It was the perfect day to get the ball rolling. Shay was out for a few days with her shoulder injury, he was officially out for a few days also, but everyone knew that a lieutenant had paperwork, so that was his excuse for coming in.
"Chief, Shay is quitting when she comes back. Sorry to break it to you like this, but it's happening. What does she need to do, forms, paperwork? Whatever there is, you can give it to me and she'll fill it out tonight." Kelly was pacing in front of Boden's desk.
"Are you on drugs again? If Leslie Shay wants to resign, she will come into my office and quit. You go home. Don't come back for two days. The only paperwork you are taking with you is from your own desk." Boden's voice reached a new decibel level with his last sentence.
"Fine. She will come in day after tomorrow and quit. And NO, I'm not on drugs but thanks for the concern," yelled Kelly slamming the door on his way out.
Boden chuckled wishing he could be a fly on the wall in that apartment tonight.
"You did what?" yelled Shay in Kelly's face. "You are the biggest male chauvinist on the planet! Wait, you can look that up later! You are completely unbeliev..."
Kelly interrupted, "I am unbelievable? I am unbelievable? You obviously have no concern for our baby, but I do! You cannot continue to..."
It was Shay's turn to interrupt, "We will talk about this when you are calm and not totally out of control." She knew how pissed he got when she used that condescending voice and that was her goal right now. She turned around and walked up the stairs to her room, lightly shutting the door.
Kelly slammed the front door as he stormed out practically foaming from the mouth. He started walking fast down the street one way changed his mind and reversed course. It was snowing, he was freezing, and his arm was throbbing. He went back to the apartment, grabbed an ice pack and headed up to Shay's room. He knocked softly.
"It's Kelly. May I come in."
"Really, Kel? I thought it was the Cookie Monster. Yes, come in." Shay was on her bed, reading a book, looking like she was one with the universe. Kelly could feel his blood pressure rising. No, he would not take the bait. The book was a nice touch though.
"Yes?" asked Shay innocently.
"How's your shoulder? I thought you could use this," he walked to the bed and carefully placed the ice pack on Shay's shoulder. He kissed her forehead and she grabbed his good arm pulling him on the bed.
"Jesus, Kelly! You're freezing! Get in here," Shay said dropping her book and pulling back the covers. She kissed his forehead and draped a leg over his body. He drew closer afraid to say anything. He knew every word would be the wrong one.
"Can we talk calmly now? No screaming?" Shay looked at Kelly, small smile on her face.
He shook his head yes still afraid his words would come out wrong.
"Kelly, I am not quitting. As much as you love your job, that's how much I love my job. It is all I've ever wanted to do." Shay looked at Kelly waiting for a protest. It didn't come.
She continued, "I get why you want me to quit. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't want you to quit. I know you don't want to hear this, but I hate your job. I hate that you are the first one in a burning building and the last one out."
Kelly couldn't believe what Shay was saying. He was shocked. He truly had no words right now.
"Your job doesn't really offer the longest life expectancy. Admit it. That worries me every day." Shay looked at Kelly wondering what he was thinking. He had been quiet for so long.
"Because I love you, I don't tell you any of this. I know you would end up hating me if I forced you to quit, so I let you be the hero, risking your life, and I keep my mouth shut." That was all of it. Shay continued to look at Kelly waiting.
"How this turned into a discussion about my job shows me how good you are at getting your way," Kelly laughed all signs of anger faded. "I never thought about squad like that. I've never had anyone really care that much. Until now. I just want you and our baby to always be safe. I love you." Kelly didn't look particularly happy about this last part.
"Kelly, all I think about is our baby. I know I'm not going to be nine months pregnant and riding around with Dawson in our ambulance. I'm going to be on leave when I can't do my job anymore. So please try not to worry too much." Shay hugged Kelly and hoped this would help.
Back at the station, Kelly did a pretty good job of keeping his worry on the inside for the next few months. The guys pretended not to see when Kelly jumped every time there was a call for paramedics. Kelly always had an eye on Shay and was ready to spring into action if a patient got a little unruly. He never had to. As Shay's stomach grew, so did Kelly's apprehension. He was running around the station trying to attend to all of Shay's needs.
"I never thought I'd see the day that Kelly Severide was a whipped man. And make no mistake, that guy is one hundred percent whipped." said Mouch adjusting his glasses, scanning his newspaper.
"Be nice, Mouch! I like this new Severide. He's just takin' care of his family, nothin' wrong with that," said Hermann defending Kelly, glancing at Shay.
"Said one whipped man about another," continued Mouch. "And how many kids you up to now Hermann? My last count is fifty two." Mouch and Cruz were laughing so hard they didn't notice Shay getting up and making her way towards them.
"Hey, assholes," began Shay as she grabbed Mouch's paper, smacking him on the side of his head with it. "Kelly is just excited about our baby and can't wait for us to begin our family! If anyone has a problem with this, they can kiss my ass! Do you have any questions?" Shay had a little look of crazy in her eyes, more than usual, and the guys knew they better keep their mouths shut.
Kelly got up and walked to the locker room, ready for another shower. He didn't want any part of those hormones right now. The guys were on their own. He didn't see Shay follow.
"What the hell, Kelly! You have nothing to say to them? They are practically insulting me and I'm the one that has to say something. Great! I feel so incredibly happy! Jesus, are you even ready for this?" Shay was pacing in front of Kelly not sure where she was heading, just moving.
"Shay, they weren't even talking about you. They were busting my balls. It was no big deal. Come here, I want to..." Kelly reached out to his beautiful, but a little crazy at the moment, girl.
"Really? Really? So now you are saying I imagined the whole thing? You are impossible!" Shay stormed out while Kelly decided to make that shower happen.
A little shower with the only sound, the only sound at all - the drops of water. Ahhh, perfect.
Kelly opened the door to the apartment and before he stepped in, he could hear Shay's voice, "Kelly, please tell me you brought me my pink lemonade. Please."
"Of course. Come here sexy girl and give me a kiss," Kelly had a huge smile across his face and was holding up a pink bottle waving it back and forth.
"Why do I feel like the word sexy is code for fat?" asked Shay grabbing the bottle from Kelly's hand.
"Sexy is code for sexy. You are so damn beautiful," tried Kelly again.
"Do you not see the size of my ass right now? It is HUGE! Seaworld called and they want their whale back!" Shay was in full crazy mode and Kelly was left a little afraid. Yes, he could handle fire all around him, closing in, smoke choking him, but this... This was truly scary.
"Shay, you've barely gained any weight. You can't even tell you're pregnant from behind. Your stomach looks like a mini basketball. You are beautiful. I am so lucky," he whispered in her ear kissing her neck.
"So my ass looked this huge before? And you are comparing our baby to a basketball! Don't even think about demanding sex right now with that little neck kiss. You are unbelievable!" Shay stormed upstairs never letting go of her lemonade.
Time for another shower thought Kelly wondering if it would be like this for the rest of Shay's pregnancy - two more months. Sixty something more days, how many hours? Ugh, and as far as demanding sex, that was laughable. He wasn't demanding an iced tea from her right now let alone anything else.
But in two months it would be worth it, a beautiful baby would be here. Their baby. The thought was wonderful, exciting, and terrifying. Kelly had been busy putting together a changing table, dresser, finding room for everything. Their place was really meant for singles not a family. It had a cold, sleek look, not warm and loving. He couldn't wait until he found a better place. He couldn't wait to see Shay's face when he took her, eyes closed to their new place, a real home to raise a family. Kelly had been secretly looking for a home and he knew he was getting close to finding a place that she would love.
As Kelly got out of the shower, he was startled with Shay sitting on the toilet waiting for him. "Hi?" he said cautiously reaching for a towel.
"I am so sorry, again," Shay said sniffling. "I am fat, I can't sleep, my back is killing me, I now have cankles, and I've turned into a raving lunatic." Shay was crying now. Kelly grabbed her in tight, holding her to his naked body.
"I will say it again and every day until the day I die, you are beautiful. The lunatic thing is not new. I am giving you the best back rub tonight, you know I have magic fingers," Kelly gave Shay that damn grin. She couldn't help but laugh. They headed to "their" room, really Shay's but now called "theirs." Kelly picked up Shay before they entered and she let out a huge laugh.
"I feel like a blushing bride," she managed to get out between laughs, cracking Kelly up.
"Hey, what are cankles anyways?" asked Kelly plopping his girl on the bed. This sent Shay into further hysterics and left Kelly in his usual condition - dumbfounded and speechless.
At the station Shay was in a good mood, everyone could walk a little easier and not have to avoid those eggshells.
"Hey, our little gremlin seems to be in a good mood today," whispered Dawson when she got Kelly alone for a few minutes. "How are you holding up?" she asked not envying him. She dealt with Shay all day and that was challenging at best. But Kelly dealt with her all night.
He laughed at their secret nickname for the woman they both loved. "No, good, really. She's just so miserable right now. Can you believe the baby will be here in less than two months?"
Aw, thank God he loves her thought Dawson. She would have never guessed a year ago that these two would end up together. Kelly was a changed man. Well, maybe not changed, but more revealed - all his good qualities revealed. And Shay. With a man.
"I cannot believe it. Kelly, you are going to be a great dad. I mean it. I think you were made for this," Dawson was really proud of him. "Oh, and how's the house search going?"
"Thanks, Gabby, that's about the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me. And now that you mention the the house hunting," Kelly got his phone out and quickly gave it to Dawson. "Look! It looks great, right? I'm looking at it tomorrow. You think she'll like?" His excitement was infectious.
"I love it and Shay is going to absolutely love it. I can keep her busy tomorrow while you look," Gabby gave Kelly a hug and just as they were letting go Shay walked in.
"What is going on?" Shay asked quietly, way too calm for her current condition.
"Uh, nothing," Kelly said a little too quickly.
"Yeah, what do you mean?" asked Dawson. "We're just talking babies," she continued hoping Kelly would get that guilty look off his face. Maybe he should just tell her about the house hunting.
"From where I'm standing, it looks like a lot more than that. You were definitely up to something. That's obvious!" Shay was just getting started.
She turned to Dawson. "It's not enough to have Mills and Casey falling all over themselves for you! You need the other lieutenant too?" Turning to Kelly, "and YOU! Do you know that everyone warned me about you? They wanted to make sure I knew what I was doing. I DEFENDED you! Even to Boden!" Kelly looked at Shay confusion all over his face.
"Yes, the Chief called me in. He wanted to make sure I had both eyes open. That's what he said, both eyes open. I told everyone they didn't really know you the way I did. But now I see it. I'm the one who doesn't know you." Shay wasn't quiet now, in fact, she was screaming and everyone could hear her, Kelly most of all.
"Shay, stop. You don't mean this," Dawson started but was interrupted by the sound of the alarm, truck, squad and paramedics all needed.
"You okay?" asked Casey. "This sounds like a bad one. You sure you're okay?" From what he overheard, Casey knew his friend couldn't be in good shape.
"Yep," said Kelly hopping into squad's truck.
Office building, second floor lit up. People rushing out. Kelly was glad to get the call, get his mind off of all that Shay said. Hormones couldn't cause all that, could they? Jesus, even Boden thought he wasn't good enough. Focus, Kelly told himself.
"Casey, get your men on one and work your way to the second. Severide, you and your men, go in through that window, see if you can get those flames under control. We need to find a way to get any people on the floors above out of here." Boden was a man in charge used to barking orders.
Kelly and Casey took off but not before Matt gave Kelly a slap on the back. "It'll all be fine. You good?"
"Yes, yes, fine." Kelly took off up the ladder, his men close behind. He was through the window and found himself covered in thick smoke.
"Capp, Hadley, check for anyone on this floor. I'll head up and make sure the next floor is clear. The stairs look good." Kelly was up to the next floor calling out, looking for victims - no one.
"I'm heading up to the next floor. Capp, anything down there?"
"No one. All clear. We're heading up to keep you company," answered Capp rushing up the stairs to join his lieutenant.
"Sounds good," Kelly was going office to office, calling out and nothing.
Capp and Hadley met up with him when Boden's voice came booming through on the radio, "Severide, you done? Casey and his men are having a hard time containing this one. We need you out before those stairs go!"
"All clear! We're heading down now Chief!" Kelly answered as he ushered Capp and Hadley down the stairs ahead of him.
The smoke was getting thicker and thicker, hard for squad to see even a foot in front of them. They were pushing it hard down the stairs, Kelly yelling, "Go, go, go!"
Capp's foot fell through a stair. "Ahhh!" he called out twisting his ankle. Kelly and Hadley grabbed him, putting his arms on their shoulders.
"These stairs are done! Let's go back up and get to a window! Chief we're on two. We'll find a window. Capp hurt his ankle, tell Shay and Dawson." Kelly's number one goal was to get his men out of there. Capp was hobbling around pretty well, that was a good sign... probably just a sprain.
Kelly and his men made it to an office a little less smoky and pried the window open. A billow of smoke exited, then he hung his head out looking for Boden. The Chief already had the ladder heading up with Casey in tow.
"Hang on!" yelled Casey willing the ladder to go faster. Finally, he reached the window sill and Capp was the first one out. It was a little slow going, getting the injured fireman out and heading down with Casey's help. No Hadley and Severide.
Shay was watching all of this practically holding her breath. Jesus, Kelly, get the hell out of there. Always have to be last, don't you?
Dawson wrapped Capp's ankle, just a light sprain. Probably wouldn't even miss a shift.
Dawson told her friend the whole house hunting debacle on the ride to the burning office building, and Shay knew she was officially crazy. Baby or not, she had lost her mind. How could she think something was going on between her two best friends? Yes, must be insane.
After apologizing to Gabby over and over, she said what they both were thinking, "What am I even going to say to Kelly?"
"Hey, it's gonna be okay. You mess up. You say sorry. He forgives you. This is what couples who love each other do. You will have many, many years of this ahead, although I think it will be him messing up," Dawson said laughing trying to get that worried look off Shay's face.
"No, I went way too far." Shay said with a definite tone of regret. "And my friend, I think this will be my last day on the job until the baby comes. I'm not doing anyone any favors by staying on." Shay knew she made the right decision when no argument came from her partner.
Now she was worried about her fireman, still in this burning building, not making the quick exit after Capp.
"Severide, where the hell are you and Hadley?" yelled Boden growing impatient with their no show on the ladder.
"Chief, we heard someone calling out. We're checking it out. We must've missed someone!" Kelly was breathing hard and Boden didn't like the urgency in his voice.
"Make it quick, lieutenant!"
"Not planning a slumber party," laughed Kelly with Hadley cracking up in the background.
Kelly and Hadley followed the cries for help and found an older woman hiding under her desk. They coaxed her out and Kelly had to fling her over his shoulder to make quicker time. The intense heat, thick smoke, and weight of the woman was making it hard for Kelly to make good time. He stumbled once and Hadley helped him up.
"You want me to take her?" asked Hadley.
"No you get on that ladder and I'll hand her to you!" Kelly made it to the window and watched Hadley scramble out on the ladder, arms outstretched
Kelly struggled to get her out with Hadley grabbing from the outside. She was unconscious making the work that much harder. Another ambulance had come earlier expecting more casualties, so Dawson and Shay had no problems letting them care for the woman once Hadley made his way down with her.
Shay was watching, terror in her eyes, Dawson's arm around her trying to calm her down. Dawson was worried not just about Kelly. She could literally see her partner's blood pressure rise every second that Kelly wasn't out of there.
"Sit down and take some deep breaths," said Dawson trying to soothe Shay. "He's almost out. He's fine."
As if on cue, Kelly came flying through the window, a big explosion of flame and smoke close behind. He landed hard on the ladder and then lay motionless.
Shay could feel a tightening in her belly and it was getting harder to breathe. Seeing Kelly not moving was sending her over the edge.
Hadley was back up the ladder really flying now. He reached Kelly and didn't like what he found.
"Severide! Severide!" Hadley was trying to roll his lieutenant over but it was nearly impossible on the ladder. Kelly was gaining consciousness, coughing and groaning.
"I'm okay," he mumbled not sure if he meant his words.
Casey had made it up and was surveying the damage. He could see parts of his friend's coat burned through, not a good sign.
"Hey, I'm going to get you down, okay. Try to stay still. I'm going to put you over my shoulder." Casey struggled with Kelly's weight but finally managed. Hadley was doing all he could to help, but it was slow going.
Shay was doubled over with pain while Dawson forced her on a stretcher.
"Get on there now!" Dawson was yelling at her friend, taking vitals and feeling for fetal movement. "Think of the baby!" That helped and Shay calmed down a little. Another ambulance had been called and would be there within two minutes.
"Please, check on Kelly! I'm fine! Go!" Shay was pleading with her friend, screaming. Shay could see Kelly slumped over, Casey talking to him taking off his jacket and peeling away his shirt.
"Severide, where do you hurt?" Dawson asked seeing the burns on his back. "You've got some burns on your back. They look like mostly first degree maybe a few second. How's your breathing?" Dawson could take a breath, relieved it wasn't worse. She handed Kelly an oxygen mask and he perked up.
"I'm okay. Where's Shay?" he couldn't believe she wasn't there. She couldn't still be mad. "Didn't you clear it all up? I kinda figured you'd have to tell her about the house hunting."
"Yeah, it's all good. She feels terrible about it all. She just got a little worked up. God knows, you took long enough to get out of there. I made her lie down for a bit." Dawson was trying to downplay the situation.
Kelly was up before Dawson, Casey or Hadley could stop him, running to where Shay was. The other paramedics were working on Shay and Kelly thought his heart truly stopped when he heard, "They're in distress! Lets get her to County now!"