A/N: I am sosososososo sorry for the wait! As cliche as it is, real world interupted and with there being about five weeks of school left I couldnt afford to be distracted. I'd like to thank anyone and everyone who still reads and reviews and I hope this chapter isnt too much of a disappointment. For those who are also reading Image in the Flames, I hope to have that uploaded soon so keep an eye out. I do not own any recognizable brands or Chicago Fire. Thank you-Alisabeth

The red basket swaying in time to bouncing steps, a pair of flip flops 'thwacked' subtly against tiled floor as Daelyn shuffled through the Walgreens a few blocks over from the Casey household. Bobbing along to One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" as she toured the aisle she blushed when an elderly employee chuckled at her, causing her to wave sheepishly as she turned into the beauty department. Halting before a display of Sinful Colors © brand polishes, the fall line showcasing both vibrant and more subdued colors, she pursed her lips as her fingers itched to explore her options. Her will power failing, she selected a few colors and added them to the little basket she'd picked up she found a cleansing facial scrub a few aisles away, her stomach rolling as she cursed the slight addiction she had to pretty polishes. Pacing the rows and managing to bypass a display of 'gourmet' chocolates without selecting any she stopped in the snack aisle, her eyes roving over the vast array of goodies.

Crouched low as she debated between regular kettle corn and caramel poppycock Daelyn rocked back and forth on her heels, not embarrassed in the slightest to be dancing to Bruno Mars' "Locked out of Heaven" in the middle of the drug store. Bouncing, she flinched when someone called her name, forcing her to glance up from her position and roll her eyes as dark green met absurdly blue eyes. Straightening and rising to her feet she swept a hand over her front and then her back, flicking away any dust.

" Hello Eric," she glared, arms crossing over her abdomen and her basket sitting against her hip as she tried not to step back. Whaley was close, way too close and way too into her bubble of personal space. Trying to keep her voice cool and emotionless to mask the sudden eruption of nerves and pulse pounding fright, Daelyn clenched a fist and pressed it against her side.

Grinning boyishly but not in the utterly adorable way Kelly does, Eric brushed strands of his sandy hair from his forehead, watching her closely. "I'm surprised to see you, from the way Matt talks it sounds like you're completely absorbed with the wedding plans. How have you been?"

Through gritted teeth she hissed her answer. "I've been fine, no thanks to you." In part it was the truth but mostly it was a lie. Ever since the night three weeks prior when he'd grabbed at her in the parking lot of the bar she'd been having little relapses from her time recovering from the first attack. She felt tired, no doubt the result of waking up nearly every night due to little night mares. And to make it worse? Both Kelly and Shay had been distant since learning of her scars, both physical and mental. Fighting the urge to swipe the smirk from his face with her ever-efficient right hook, Daelyn tensed as he began to move closer, reaching behind her in search for anything to be used as a weapon, just in case her right hook wouldn't work. Opening her mouth protest (or maybe scream, she wasn't sure), Daelyn relaxed slightly when someone whistled shrilly from her right.

Looking over her shoulder in that direction she tensed once more when she saw Kelly step into the aisle, setting the basket he held down at his feet as he planted his hands on his hips. His eyes narrowed and his jaw set, she'd never seen him look so serious. It was actually somewhat hot, she mused before shaking herself.

"Is there a problem, Whaley?" he demanded, his eyes never leaving the other lieutenant's as Daelyn stepped away from the blonde and moved closer to Kelly, seeking him out and putting him between she and her harasser.

Whaley's smirk grew a little bit more. "Not a single one, Severide. I was just talking to Ms. Conway." He cocked an eyebrow in Daelyn's direction.

"You were talking, I was trying to leave," Daelyn stated boldly, spine straightening as she inhaled the scent of something purely Kelly, allowing it to seep into her every pore and calm her from the inside. From this close, she noticed the side of Kelly's mouth twitch before he stepped closer to Whaley.

"Leave her be Eric, I'm only going to tell you once," Kelly said, his voice sounding deep and thick, like he'd gargled with gravel and whiskey his entire life. "Stay the hell away from Daelyn." Short and to the point, with absolutely no room for error.

Eric snorted. "And what are you going to do if I don't."

Blue eyes flashed darkly as Kelly adjusted his weight distribution. "Since she'd come to Chicago Daelyn has become like a sister and or daughter to all members of Fire House Fifty-One, and you? You're just temporary, nothing more than an outsider. What do you think would happen if they found out you've been harassing her?"

Adam's apple jumping in his throat, Eric attempted to show no emotion. "They wouldn't do anything."

Kelly gave a dark little chuckle. "Are you sure about that? She's found her way into all our lives and as a family, we will stop at nothing to protect her. Have you ever seen Mouch pissed off, because I guarantee if he finds out you've been bothering her he'll be on you like flies on horse shit. Nobody messes with one of us, and you, you aren't so get lost."

Daelyn kept her head down, listening to every word as Eric tried to retort, giving up and walking off with a final glare over his shoulder. Could it have been that easy, she wondered. Standing in silence for a moment she sighed, turning and picking up the basket Kelly had set aside. Handing it to him she picked up her own, rubbing at the back of her neck uncomfortably. Watching him reach for his purchases, she stepped around him and paused before she could reach the aisle.

Thankful for years of dance she pushed herself up and onto her tip toes, planting a soft kiss on a bristly cheek as she bypassed the ice cream freezers in favor of checking out, whispering a shy thank you as she walked on. Knowing it was a completely anticlimactic ending she paid, ignoring the teen clerks blatant flirting as she glanced once over her shoulder in search of Kelly but not seeing him. Using the remote control to unlock Rowan's jeep, Daelyn sighed as she carefully reversed out of her spot and drove from the parking lot, cursing herself the entire way.

A/N: Alright, so this definitly wasnt one of the best, but hopefully once school gets out I will have more time to fully develope the plot and characters. Constructive critism only please