A/N: I am so sorry for the wait! Chapter seven is in progress so hopefully that moves more quickly, I'll probably have it up next week :) -Alisabeth
Her key in her left hand and her shoes in her right as she tip toed up to the porch of the house, Daelyn Conway bit her bottom lip, fighting the urge to giggle at her teen like behavior. Her messy bun obscuring her vision as she bypassed the first door and stooped to unlock the interior one she shivered, cold hardwood abusing the sensitive pads of her feet. Thankful for the years of dance she'd endured growing up she balanced easily and as close to en pointe as she could get without the proper footwear, taking perfectly measured steps down the hallway, glancing out the bay window off the kitchen and waving to Kelly who flicked his headlights at her and drove away. Smirking at the rebellious glow of the clock announcing that it was 2:00am, she yawned softly.
Moving to pass the kitchen while applauding herself on her stealth so far, Daelyn eyed the stairs wearily, attempting to determine which was the stair that squeaked when pressure was applied to a certain place on the board. Discretion that is what she would need to continue to go undetected. Rolling her shoulders and placing her foot on the first step she was in mid weight shift when the lights flickered on around her, the sound of a clearing throat causing her to shriek and spin, landing ass first on the stairs. Baffled she blinked against the light, more than embarrassed to find her future brother in law watching her from his favorite recliner, an eyebrow raised and his arms folded over his chest. Holy shit on a shingle was she busted.
"Good morning," she smiled sleepily, debating how to diffuse the situation. "Lovely day, wasn't it?"
Matt huffed a little, watching her steadily. "Absolutely marvelous," he drawled dryly. "Where've you been?"
Daelyn winced at his overprotective tone. "With Shay and Kelly?"
Matt cocked an eyebrow. "Until two in the morning?"
Daelyn nodded. "Yup," she grinned, popping the 'p.' "You can call either of them and check."
Matt seriously considered it. "What did you guys do?"
Daelyn snorted, trying not to mock Matt with her patience waning. "It's not like we had some crazy three- some. Kelly and I went swimming at the lake, went back to the apartment, and then spent the afternoon watching movies with Shay. Ask her, because she and I got into a forty minute debate on who's hotter; Jensen Ackles, Jeffery Dean Morgan or Jared Padalecki."
Matt sighed, glancing at his watch. "Alright, I believe you."
Her lips pursed, brows furrowed. "That doesn't matter to me Matt. It matters that I'm twenty-eight and fully capable of taking care of myself and you act like I'm fifteen. Sean wasn't even this overprotective of me when I was a teenager!" She swallowed thickly, shaking her head. "I've been on my own since I was sixteen and went off to college. I appreciate the gesture but please…just," she trailed off. Tongue darting out to moisten her lips she turned, taking the stairs two at a time while tears gathered in her eyes.
Perhaps she was being tough on him but she couldn't take the stifling of someone constantly looking out for her. It had happened once, they'd both ended up getting hurt in the end, and she refused to let it happen again. Closing the guest room door gently behind her she leaned against it, dropping her shoes and barely managing to rein in her frustration. Not only did she feel bad about snapping at Matt, but she had a forming migraine and Thor was whimpering in the hall. Ah, hell.
Yawning sleepily and shuffling from her bed to the desk where she had left her glasses, Daelyn grimaced at the grimy, salty feeling on her cheeks. The residue of her tears from the night before made her feel dirty and as she tried to swipe at it she shivered at the feel of cold hardwood beneath the sensitive pads of her feet. Taking the stairs hesitantly, fully expecting to find Matt and Rowan downstairs before work, she poked her head around the corner into the kitchen. Calling out she waited, proceeding into the kitchen when only Thor greeted her. Reaching for the handle of the fridge she stopped short when she was intercepted by the note held against the door with a Dalmatian shaped magnet.
'Daelyn, Matt left for work early to help Chief Bowden repair something at 51 and I had a nine o'clock class to teach. Adrian has a Professional Development day and should be asleep in her room. Call me if you have any questions~ Ro.'
Retreating back up stairs to check Adrian's room she nodded when she found her niece still asleep beneath a mound of Tinkerbelle themed sheets, oblivious to the sunlight streaming through her purple gossamer curtains. Grinning and closing the door until it was merely cracked, she went to prepare breakfast, deciding to allow her niece to awake on her own. Gathering the materials to make pancakes she stopped short, staring at the stove as memories of her argument with Matt hit her once again. The scent of heated cooking oil reaching her nose she decided what she was going to do.
Listening to Adrian babble about what she wanted to do once they left the firehouse, Daelyn grunted, motioning with her head as her niece reached for the door, holding it open for her as she carried the large cardboard box. The potent scent of various spices and sharp cheddar cheese wafting on the breeze she was thankful that she'd called ahead, checking that A) what she had planned was all right and that B) there were no allergies. The flat soles of her knee high boots creating a dull thud against the concrete floor she smiled at the secretaries and the dispatchers as she passed through on her way to the kitchen, relief pulsing through her as she set her box and her purse on the counter beside her. Crouching down to pat a barking Pouch on the head, Daelyn straightened the navy blue shirt dress she wore, rolling up the sleeves and tucking a loose strand of hair back into her bun. Glancing up in time to see Adrian setting herself up at the main table with a surprisingly full sketch pad and a set of colored pencils, she relaxed slightly, turning on her iPod. Allowing the Drop Kick Murphy's "Out of Our Head" to filter through the room she bopped along, leaning over the stainless steel sink and washing her hands before unloading what she'd brought and commandeering a few tools from the drying rack.
Methodically lining the counter space around her with her ingredients she set two decent sized pots on a stove, using one to boil water and the other for the sauce she'd need. Humming along while measuring things out for the sauce and adding them to the pot, she continually looked over to check on her niece, smiling softly each time she found Adrian contentedly shading something in, her free hand rubbing circles on Pouch's withers. Yelping as she caught the side of her palm on the edge of the burner closest to her she hissed, shaking her hand as she stirred four large boxes of medium elbow shaped pasta into the rapidly boiling water, switching to the next pot as she melted the cheddar cheese in with the cayenne the smallest dash of hot sauce. Lost in her own little world as she cooked, she flinched when Pouch nudged her with her nose, leaving a trail of slimy saliva on and around Daelyn's thigh.
Unable to stand the feeling of the saliva drying on her skin as she drained the pasta, mixed it with the sauce and then poured it into a baking pan, Daelyn bounced foot to foot as she sprinkled the cheese and bread crumbs over the top. Sticking the pan into the preheated oven, near slamming its door as she skittered to the sink to wet a paper towel, she bent at the waist, holding her dress's hem in one hand as she worked to scrub her flesh. Straightening and rolling her neck, back to the door, she heard the sounds of vehicles pulling in and numerous feet, one person calling out jokingly to Candidate Mills, asking if he had left the oven on. Hiding a little smirk behind her hand, Daelyn lowered the music as Adrian giggled, clearing her belongings and setting the table.
"It smells spicy," someone, probably Mouch, stated the closer the footsteps came to the doorway. The shadow of appeared and she saw one break off from the pack through the frosted glass, pushing though first. "Genius girl!" Mouch exclaimed as he appeared, a smudge of soot on his cheek, beaming as he took in the scent of food.
Knowing that the slightly odd man meant the usually frustrating name in good faith caused her to chuckle, lifting her arm and waving over her shoulder as she peered into the clear window on the oven, hand pressed to her chest to keep her neckline from shifting while she was in the position. Agreeing with the timer for once, she began to make a side salad, dicing skillfully at a link of pepperoni as she peered over at Mouch who was on the couch watching her, nearly salivating as the other members of Truck entered. Well, she mused, maybe it's true what they say. The way to a man's heart is through is stomach. Uttering greetings to those who joined them, she tensed while waiting to see Matt enter. Her stomach suddenly up in knots, she felt nauseas, as if she were balanced on a tight rope a hundred feet in the air without safety gear.
Taking a deep breath she motioned Adrian over from where she was talking to Peter Mills. "Sweetheart, I've got to go find your dad for a sec, can you keep an eye on lunch and if the buzzer rings have somebody take it out for you?" When Adrian nodded, brows furrowed in confusion, Daelyn took a deep breath and bypassed the people milling about, following Mouch's motion towards the Lieutenant's quarters.
Knocking on the door that partially obscured her from her brother-in-law she waited, fidgeting. Going over her pre-rehearsed speech in her head she got caught up enough to miss the door opening until Matt cleared his throat. Her speech left her and she forced herself to speak before him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, simplicity taking the place of her carefully thought out plan. "I didn't mean to get snippy last night."
Matt chuckled, utterly confusing her. "It's okay, really, D. I talked to Severide this morning and he and Shay cleared it up. I know I was a little pushy but you're the only real sister I've head. I was just trying to be a brother." He reached up and ruffled her hair, tucking a pen behind his ear and messing up her bun. "Besides, I know that being a brother requires some degree of ignoring snippy."
Jaw dropping at his blunt honesty Daelyn laughed as he hooked an arm around her neck. Leaning into his side, she wrinkled her nose a little as she took in the mixed scent of gasoline, smoke and wet cotton. She seriously prayed he would shower before he'd come home. "Lunch should be about done," she mentioned, winding an arm around his waist and hugging him. "I figured I'd make that Southwest style mac'n'cheese like last time you visited."
He perked up, opening his mouth as they turned into the kitchen before closing it quickly, eyes darkening playfully. "Mouch! Get away from my mac'n'cheese!" Pulling away from Daelyn's side, Matt left her standing in the hall laughing, eyes squinted as she watched him snatch a bowl from the counter and stalk to the front of the line.
Still laughing she smoothed out her bun, blood chilling as Eric Whaley winked at her. In an attempt to place as much distance between the two of them, she eased in front of Shay and behind Mills in line, shrieking as the blonde gave her a wet Willy. Turning around she punched Shay gently on the shoulder, swiftly putting Mills between the two of them. Despite the craziness of the day and the night before, Chicago was beginning to feel like home once again.