Chapter 2

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The next morning Stella woke up before Kelly and sat up in bed, looking down at him peacefully sleeping. She grabbed her book on the side table and read until he woke up about 20 minutes later.

Kelly looked up at her and squeezed her hand "Morning" he said still pretty groggy

"I missed this...waking up together" Stella said cupping his face with her left hand

Kelly spaced out for a second, and thought about how he screwed up last night by not telling her about the kiss. He flash backed to the moment in the court house

"What are you doing" Kelly said pushing her away after a few seconds of her kissing him

"I thought you felt it too" Renee sad trying to pull him back in

"I don't feel anything for you. I have a girlfriend and I missed a lot of time with her helping you with this case."

"You and I could have it all. Nickolas loves you. I have never seen him gravitate towards anyone like he has with you"

"Renee, he is not my son. I can't be with you and more importantly I don't want to. Congratulations on the case. This is goodbye...there is no reason to see each other again"

"Kelly. Don't leave"

"What's wrong?" she asked

Kelly brought himself back to reality. "I'm fine" he said not wanting to ruin their moment

"Kelly, I know you" Stella started "Something is up"

Kelly knew Stella was smart and would eventually figure it out something more happened, especially because she was so suspicious of Renee. He cleared his throat. "Renee kissed me" Kelly said. He wasn't sure what to say next so he paused to let Stella respond

Stella got off of the bed and stood up "What did you do?"

"I stopped it" Kelly said

"Right away?" Stella asked starting to become inseure

"A few seconds later I pushed her off and told her I did not want her. I told her that I wanted you"

"Didn't you see her getting ready to kiss you?" Stella added. She normally wouldn't be like this about men. It made her realize how much she really cares about him

"I thought she was giving me a hug"

"So you wanted to hug her?" Stella said walking over to the couch to put space in between her and Kelly

"No." Kelly said quickly "I just wanted to come here to you, but a hug didn't seem too bad, in that moment because she won the trial"

"Yesterday. You were not answering your phone so I went to your place before I found you here. I had this awful feeling that you were going to be in bed together." Stella admitted

"I would never do that to you" Kelly said getting up and walking toward her "I care about you too much to lose you over some ex-girlfriend who means nothing to me."

"Why didn't you tell me right away?" Stella inquired

"I didn't know when a good time would be. After you sat in my lap I just wanted to hold you, not do this...what we are doing now. Where you lose trust in me"

"Kelly" she said not wanting to get angry at him. She knew it wasn't his fault, but he still should have let her know right away. "It is probably a good idea to get ready for work"

Kelly was confused...was Stella forgiving him or avoiding the issues. Or did she say something in code that he didn't understand "What?"

"I am going to get ready for work" Stella answered and went to the bathroom closing the door behind her

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Stella and Kelly drove in silence to work. She was not being mean to him, she was all in her head and needed to talk to Dawson before she could talk to Kelly again

When they got to the firehouse, Dawson was nowhere to be found and Casey was locked in his office. The whole house seemed on edge, something was going on. Morning briefing started and Boden came to the center of the room "Unfortunately we will be losing one of our paramedics for the next three months. Gabby Dawson joined a mission trip to Puerto Rico to help assist in their rehabilitation efforts. She left early this morning and will let us know of her progress. Kidd, for today and tomorrow you will be with Brett."

"Sounds good. Stella and I work well together" Brett said still absorbing the news about her partner

"Yes Chief" Stella said trying to smile at Brett

"I will have a replacement coming on by the end of the week. Dismissed" Boden said. Everyone but Stella left the room. Brett came back into the briefing room

"Stella, are you okay?"

"Yeah. Good. Actually no"

"Are you upset that you are off truck for two days?"

"Oh Brett, no that's not it. I love Ambo days with you. It will be nice to be on constant calls today" She smiled

"So what's wrong?"

"Severide."

"What did she do?" Brett asked knowing it was about Renee

"He told me this morning that she kissed him. But he didn't push her off before she tried. I just don't get how he can say he wants me and only thinks about me and then allows her to kiss him" Stella babbled

"Is she gone for good?"

"That is what he told me. I was hoping to talk to Gabby since she knows Severide's history but she went and left me"

"And me" Brett said sadly

"I am sorry, I am making this about me. It is so trivial in the grand scheme of things" Stella said trying to reason "Right?"

"I am probably not the best person to give advice. Gabby is way better at this than me" Brett admitted

"I am icing him out" Stella said

"Does he know that you are doing that?"]

"Well I haven't said a word to him for the past 3 hours"

"It is probably driving him crazy" Brett laughed

"Yeah. But honestly, it's only because I don't know what to say. I have never been speechless in my adult life" Stella smiled, laughing at herself

"That is weird" Brett said joining in on the laughter

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Kelly knocked on Casey's door to make sure he was okay. Casey opened it and looked very angry. "Today is a shit show. I lose Kidd off on truck because Gabby made a stupid impulsive move"

"What happened? Stella said last night that you two were going through something"

"I am not sure we can come back this time. It was bad" Matt said running his hands through his hair

"Don't lose hope man" Kelly said. Trying to put himself at ease to over the situation with Stella

"It's a little too late for that speech. She is gone for three months." Matt started but was interrupted by a call

Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambo 61

Stella and Brett ran past Casey and Kelly. He smiled at both of them but Stella didn't even acknowledge him

"What was that about. I thought you two were good and Renee was gone" Casey asked

"Renee kissed me. I told Stella."

"This better not affect Kidd and her work ethic" Casey said angrily and went to put his turnout gear on

"Aye Aye Captain" Kelly said under his breath and followed Caseyto put his gear on

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So...there will be a rough patch, but don't lose hope just yet!