Title: Growing Pains
Chapter 2 – Making Amends & Making Plans

A/N: So I am going to try to add as many details as possible from new eppies (which is why this updates after new eppies) but I will still have my own spin (meaning added peril/danger and of course emotional angst and lots of broments!) hope that's okay and please do enjoy!

Casey stares at the closed door with his mouth slightly agape before he finally makes a move to open it. He had hoped to see Severide standing there but instead – nothing. Just a black empty space on the front outside porch and his heart sinks.

"Ah damn it Kelly!" He gently curses. "Why didn't he let me explain further? I'm not…even I was surprised," he shakes his head. His words were spoken in rash emotional anger…his mind tries to correctly remind him as he slowly closes the front door and then leans against it for a few seconds, trying to process everything that's just happened in the past few hours.

A tense shift. Being pulled up into the fourth story window after falling off a ladder. A promise to go and drink a shot to their fallen friend. A call…a car accident…a DUI…Heather. Her friend Jen was severely injured and died.

"'Be safe…"

Casey thinks about those words that he uttered and the situation surrounding it. He had disobeyed orders not to make any unnecessary side trips and bought her a round. Small pangs of guilt start to creep into his soul before his brain reminds him that no matter what she was bought, she still made the conscious choice to get behind the wheel in an inebriated state. That's not his fault. Even still it hurt him…And then the bomb was dropped.

Heather was charged with manslaughter and took a plea deal. All of it was so sudden and happened so fast but almost to surreal to comprehend. But probably one of the most shocking things out of all of this was Heather's confession…

"Andy and I talked about it and we wrote you into our will as the boy's guardian in case something should happen to us. Will you look after the boys while I'm in here?"

Of course he was going to say yes he felt obligated…but it was the fact that she mentioned the will. They put it in the will? But they never told me…why not Kelly…he's known Andy longer and…damn I hate being in the middle! He could understand Severide's shock and hurt…his outburst at feeling betrayed by a close friend. Only….it wasn't his decision. I have to make Kelly understand that…I'm not sleeping with Heather and I didn't convince her of this move. I have been spending time with the boys but…but damn why didn't she mention it before? Give me some warning and I could have warned Kelly.

"Ah Kelly I'm sorry," Casey whispers as he locks the front door and heads for his phone still perched on the ledge by the hall table. He quickly dials Severide's number, but can only grumble when he gets no response. He pulls away from the door and heads into the darkened living room, slumping down onto the couch and staring absently out the window, looking outside into the night. Fifteen months…it was better than five or even ten years…that would destroy her family and Heather knew that but still…she'd miss out on so much in her boy's lives and he was hardly father-ready.

"She should have known better…damn it she knew not to drink and drive!" Casey mutters. Upon hearing the remorse in her voice, he knew she felt guilty for what she did and didn't make excuses but still…she made the decision in the first place, and much like his stance on Voight's son…he felt just as strongly with Heather's bad decision – that resulted in the death of her friend. "She should have known better," he huffs as he hears some soft grumbling coming from upstairs. Andy's anniversary would now be marked with another unfortunate death.

Casey's mind thinks back to the time he offered to watch the boys for an overnight stance, Heather actually on an overnight spa trip with her friend's, Jen being one of them and what a lot of work just those few hours had been. Now he'd be having to arrange a schedule to get them to school…have them picked up…make them breakfasts, and lunches, and dinner. Arrange school outings and help with homework and then there was the extracurricular stuff. Heather had some small income coming in from Andy's life insurance policy and the fire fighters widow's fund that would help him with the boy's clothes and food but it wasn't like he had a regular Monday to Friday, nine to five job. He worked in shifts and long hours at that. Now with their Firehouse up for review, going to the Chief and asking for an amended schedule seemed out of the question. Especially, if indeed there was a snitch in the House.

I need Kelly's help…I can't do this alone and the boys love him…he's…he was Andy's best friend and their uncle also…it seems only fair. Damn why didn't he just listen!

Casey reaches for a small blanket and then leans back on the couch, allowing his mind to wander before he drifts into darkness until morning.

XXXXXXXX

Morning arrives all too soon and Casey is quickly awoken by the sound of young voices, his lips uttering a small gasp as Ben jumps on his chest and looks down at him with a wide grin. "Morning," Casey offers somewhat sleepily as he hastens to awaken fully. "Where's your brother?"

"Right here. What time is mom coming home today?"

With those biting words, Casey quickly perks up and sits fully upright on the couch, patting the space beside him for Griffin to sit down.

"I want to see mom."

"I know but…but I need to tell you both something about your mom."

Casey takes a deep breath and knows, in this moment, he cannot lie. The truth would hurt but it had to come out. And as soon as he told them the plain facts, their mother was involved in a car accident where someone died and she would be going to jail for about a year and a half, you could cut the thick tension with a pin.

As expected both small faces look at him as if he was the most horrible person in the world for telling them something to…horrible. Their mother wasn't coming home. She was stuck in jail. For making a bad choice and killing someone. She accepted her mistake but still had to pay for it. Now…her children would suffer as well as the family of the woman, her friend who died. In fifteen months, they'd be getting their mother back. Nothing was ever going to bring Jen back…just like nothing was ever going to bring their father back. Now they were stuck with a friend…a man not even biologically related to them. But one their care was entrusted to.

"So…."

"Can we go visit her today?" Ben asks in haste. Casey looks over at him and knows, he's going to have the hardest time adjusting to their new living arrangement.

"I will try to work out a regular visitation schedule okay? For days when I'm not on shift. But for now, let's get you lunch for…"

"What about breakfast?" Griffin interjects.

"Breakfast right. Okay you boys go get dressed and we'll…get started."

By the time Casey was heading to the Firehouse, his mind was racing. Of course not every morning would be as frantic…he'd have to get them all into a regular daily routine and then things…for the most part would be okay. But as he nears the Firehouse his tension shifts from his head to his stomach. He and Severide had worked past the tension with him and Heather, and Kelly had finally got it through his thick skull they were just friends. I mean damn, Hallie came back and then she was killed and I…how could he think…okay he wasn't…he reacted as he normally does…he sulked and now…now I don't know…his thoughts trail off as he parks his truck and heads for the front doors. He knows that, as much as he would really hate it, he and Severide have worked with tension hanging over them before. But now with Heather incarcerated, he wants Kelly to be a stable and regular figure in the boy's lives. He owed that to Andy. And for the sake of their friendship.

"Chief, you seen Kelly yet?"

"Not yet," Boden replies firmly as he looks at Casey in concern. "How are the boys?"

"They are…this morning telling them was a bit of a struggle but I don't think it really hit home yet. It might be worse tomorrow, we'll see. In a few days I'll take them to see their mom and then…then I don't know."

"We have your back, you know that right?"

"Thanks Chief. I'll need it."

"Kelly especially. He was Andy's best friend."

"I hope so," Casey replies in a soft whisper as he offers Boden a strained smile and then continues on his way. He enters the quiet locker room and only sees Shay at one end. "Hey…Kelly in yet?"

"No he's trying to get his deposit back from the place he and Renee were supposed to get."

"Supposed to?"

"Guess with everything that happened yesterday, he didn't tell you?"

"No. Tell me what?" Casey shrugs as he nears. "What's going on?"

"Twenty-five cent version? Renee lied about the baby being his. She's gone and he's homeless," she lightly smirks as Casey's frown increases. "Don't worry, he'll be fine. How are the boys?"

"They're…coping," Casey answers slowly. "What? Really?"

"Yeah, really."

Casey watches Shay take her leave and then turns and stares at Severide's locker and frowns. He knows that Severide overreacted but he couldn't fault him completely if he had been blind-sided by Renee and then comes to his place and is blind-sided again. "We need to clear this up and fast," Casey sighs as he pulls out a small slip of paper and then scribbles a note, folds it and prepares to shove it into the slats on Severide's locker.

But just before he can do it, the overhead paging system is heard and within seconds the firehouse is buzzing with busy men, getting their gear and then rushing to their perspective trucks. Casey watches Severide hurry into the front entrance, dump his gear and then lock eyes with him for a few seconds. Instead of seeing hardened anger, or even bitter resentment, he sees only genuine remorse and feels his core tighten.

Just before his mind switches over into work mode, he feels some relief wash over him and sets his mind at ease for later when he'll have to talk to Severide and clear the air. But the call doesn't exactly go as planned and he quickly finds himself gasping for air, seconds after a superheated blast that had been trapped in a small closet unleashed itself upon his back, forcing him to fly through the air and slam into a few wooden crates.

"Casey!"

Severide hears Hermann's voice over his headset calling out anxiously to Casey and starts to act.

"We wait!" Boden states gruffly as he pulls Severide back.

"Chief…"

"There's only room for the three of them in there…they'll get him out."

"Damn they better," Severide grumbles as his frantic gaze turns and fixes on the smoky black entrance to the small one story house. "Casey…come on…." Severide whispers as the seconds turn into minutes and the minutes seem to trudge by with epic slowness. His mind thinks back to the night before; he had just been finished getting blind-sided by Renee and then got the urgent text from Casey and despite it being late and him emotionally exhausted went over; only to be verbally blind-sided once more. And he reacted in the worst way possible. He overreacted. And instead of waiting for Casey to explain; he allowed Casey's abject dejected expression to burn into his memory, keeping him awake all night long to ponder the last tormented twenty-four hours. Now he can only wait and pray that Casey comes out alive and they can have a heart to heart; his mind and heart both begging for a chance to make amends. This prayer would be answered.

"Finally," Severide whispers as he sees Mills and Hermann bringing out Casey in their grasp.

"I'm…fine," Casey tries to push away the attending hands, Shay and Dawson wanting to make sure before they back off for good; Severide standing careful watch, his eyes fixed on Casey's soot covered face.

"He's fine," Shay looks up at Boden and gives him a small nod before she looks at Severide. "His head is as hard as yours."

"Harder," Casey muses softly as he looks up at Severide in soft remorse.

"Hey Severide!" Mills calls out as he nears him and Casey; Boden watching in interest. "Another present for you."

"Damn this bastard," Severide curses as Boden gives him a friendly slap on the back.

"We'll get this guy Kelly."

"Established a pattern yet?"

"Two," Severide replies with a small growl.

"Two?" Casey wonders.

"One of the angles is that some of the places, like this one have been the trickiest to fight fires in this area. The second…has been personal."

"Think it's two guys?"

"No I think it's one and I think it's a firefighter," Severide comments as he looks over at Clarke and then back down at Casey. "I just don't know who. Well I might but…but right now I gotta say something. Matt look…about la…"

"Severide!"

"Hold on a sec. Matt…"

"It's okay," Casey gives him a tight lipped nod before he turns and slowly heads toward his truck; no one else noticing his shoulders slumping except for the one person watching.

"Damn it Matt…I need to explain," Severide mutters under his breath as he turns to face his newest Squad member. "Yeah Clarke, what's up?"

Clarke couldn't talk fast enough and even still, Severide told him to either talk faster or they'd talk in the truck on the way back – that's what they did. But as soon as they were back in the firehouse, Severide tells Boden he'll get to his report right after he takes care of something. Severide heads for Casey with a determined expression, nearing him as Casey looks up with a soft frown.

"We gotta talk…now," Severide lightly mentions in an undertone, Casey giving him a nod of acknowledgment; Boden watching his two lieutenants disappearing out of view into the backroom and can only wonder if their tense expressions had more to do with the Darden boys than the fact that someone was targeting one of them.

Casey enters the small room, turning around just as Severide closes the door for some added privacy. But before he can get out a word, Severide holds up his right hand and Casey's jaw clamps shut.

"What I said last night was out of line and I'm sorry. It had been…"

"Shay told me about Renee. I'm sorry about the baby and the apartment."

"Yeah me to," Severide shakes his head. "Shay actually put the bug in my head about….ah the timing and stuff and then Renee admitted the baby wasn't mine but…it just hurt to hear. I was ready to be a father. But I was angry but it's no excuse for what I said."

"I thought we had worked past that," Casey states simply.

"We did," Severide rubs his face as he looks down and then back up with a tired expression. "It was uncalled for especially since I know you just came off leave for losing Hallie. Damn man…I'm sorry. I was angry and…"

"And caught off guard. To be honest…I was too. Kelly, Heather took me by surprise also," Casey admits with a heavy sigh as he leans against the wall and looks at Severide with a heavy frown.

"I still jumped to the wrong conclusion didn't I?"

"On my time off I have been helping Heather with a few home reno's just to keep busy…I've been helping with the boys in just…small ways but Kelly when she asked me to look after the boys for the time she's in jail…I…what could I say? I saw Andy in that moment and what could I say? No? I didn't have time to think. I felt obligated because Andy and I were also friends. This morning…I know one thing…I can't do this alone. I know that you and Andy…."

"No don't do that," Severide interjects in haste as he shakes his head. "Andy and I were close but he knew me."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning they both knew…ah hell I know you're the better family man outta the two of us. He knew on a Friday night you'd want to be home with a family and I'd be at the bar. It was only recently with Shay and then Renee that I thought about having a family but it wasn't planned. Renee surprised me with it. Heather didn't know about any of that. You've been spending time with them as…"

"Friends only Kelly. Heather knew that. I wasn't ready for more; especially after Hallie's death."

"It was the natural choice Matt. I get that. But it still took me by surprise to hear it last night."

"Okay you tell me right now…if you don't want me looking after Griffin and Ben and I won't."

"Really?"

"I don't want Heather to pit us against each other. We moved past that but…"

"But my stupid comment last night brought it all back. I was outta line."

"I'll admit I was surprised and…and hurt at first but I didn't know what you had been dealing with just before you came over and then I didn't exactly give you much warning or have time to sugar coat it."

"I should have stayed."

"You should have," Casey states firmly as Severide offers him a wry smile but is forced to nod in agreement. "I need help Kelly…I need your help. Ben loves you…he loves being around you and I know it would do Griffin good also. They would like to have you in their lives helping out. Us both being there for them. This is what Andy would have wanted."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

"Heather has her reasons for picking you Matt and I'm not going to argue that you're the better family man. Hell you want a family. You have since I've known you…everyone knows that and of course Heather does also. My comment made you doubt that and I'm sorry. But as much as I was surprised I'm not that angry. So how'd it go this morning?"

"Hell," Casey admits with a small smirk. "I offered lunch before breakfast, they want to go and see their mom well Ben does Griffin doesn't…I have to work around my schedule and finding someone to pick them up when I'm on shift…yes I wanted a family…I still do but I wanted one with…"

"Hallie," Severide offers with a soft whisper as Casey's jaw tightens but he nods.

"At least one I had already prepared myself to have. My house…Kelly it's not kid friendly…at least not yet. I have to shop for a whole bunch of new groceries and I just…I'm a bit overwhelmed and it's only my first day. I have fifteen months of this," Casey groans as he earns a small smile from Severide. "Shay told me that you had to get your deposit back from your other apartment that you were going to get with Renee but…you know I have the room and I need the help."

"Move in?"

"Fifteen months. I figure between the two of us we can ensure the boys are well looked after and that both of us remain in their lives. Kelly I know you want that as much as me. Not just for Andy. For us. And it'll let you look for something more permanent during that time. So yeah…just let me know and…"

"Okay."

"Okay?" Casey asks as Severide offers him a small chuckle.

"I want what's best for the boys too Matt and we're friends. That hasn't changed. I was pissed last night but I was pissed at a lot of stuff. Renee….the damn arsonist and then Heather. I mean damn, Heather drives drunk and kills her friend on the night of Andy's death anniversary and then I'm told she's going to jail and…what the hell was she thinking?"

"I was just as mad about her decision," Casey assures him in truth. "I thought about it last night…she knew better. She did and now…the boys pay the price," Casey concludes softly.

"I stopped by his grave last night…after I left your place, that's where I went."

"Woulda been the first place I would have looked but I couldn't leave," Casey admits with a small sigh. "So…you sure you're good with this?"

"Yeah I'm good. Shay's got a line on a place of her own but I think she'll have a roomie soon enough."

"Yeah, new girl?" Casey asks in interest.

"Apparently," Severide answers with a small smile. "I have given up trying to keep up."

"Yeah I can see that. I gues…" Casey starts only to be interrupted by a small knock on the door; Boden poking his head inside to see what was going on.

"Everything okay in here?" He asks the two somewhat tense faces looking back at him in wonder.

"Yeah Chief, we're good," Casey offers in haste as Boden pushes the door open.

"Okay then I need Kelly for a few minutes."

"We'll talk more later," Severide assures Casey as he gives him a friendly smile and follows Boden out of the room; Casey lingering for a few minutes.

"Thank god," Casey whispers as he leans against the back wall; feeling a wash of relief covering over him. He had wanted to clear the air with Kelly as soon as possible but was more than content that he had agreed to move in for the duration of Heather's incarceration and help look after her two boys; his childhood best friend's children. As they talked, Heather's reason for choosing him to be their guardian made more sense but he wanted Severide to admit it; wanted him to say it for both of them to hear as he knows it would help make peace faster and to last longer than if he had said it and forced Severide to agree with him. But he knows it won't be easy and isn't fooling himself that some major adjustments would have to be made.

This won't be easy at all…for any of us, Casey's mind admits heavily as he leaves the room and rejoins his team; wondering how the first night the four of them would spend under his roof and if peace would grow or be hindered by his two new charges. They boys were forced to accept him as their guardian and now they would be forced to have another male figure living in the house with them. Yeah…this won't be easy at all.

XXXXXXXX

"Okay we have a big day ahead of us. Uncle Kelly is moving in to help out a bit."

"He is?" Ben asks with a big smile, making Casey's decision to tell them somewhat easier.

"Yeah he is. You guys happy about that?"

"Whatever," Griffin retorts glumly as he offers a firm kick to his backpack, seated on the floor and packed for school.

"Griffin, stop that," Casey warns with a heavy frown as he looks up from Ben to Griffin and then slowly stands up. "I know this has been an adjustment for all of us but we have to try to make this work okay? For your mom's sake. Now we're going to see her on Thursday and…"

"She doesn't care about us! I don't want to see her!" Griffin shouts as he grabs his backpack and storms out toward the front door, slamming it shut and forcing Casey's anxiety to rise. The inside of the truck is silent as he heads for school, thankful that his sister had so readily volunteered to help out with the after school stuff when he was on a long shift; they'd stay at her place until he was able to pick them up. That would also help save him babysitting money and ensure the boys were looked after someone who had something personal invested in them.

"How'd it go this morning?" Severide asks Casey as Casey slowly heads into the locker room and utters a small grumble.

"I'd say fine but it would be a lie. Griffin is testing me every chance he gets. He's angry and moody and internalizes everything. I've tried to explain I know what they're going through…because well I do but he doesn't seem to care. It's hard for Ben because he's trying to be helpful but I think sometimes Griffin's negativity forces him to react in a way he doesn't even want. Christie at least is a neutral source but she says Griffin's still quiet and withdrawn while Ben plays with Violet and is friendly to her. I told them about going to see their mom on Thursday and Griffin shouted that he didn't want to and stormed out of the room."

"I'll move my stuff in tonight and then we'll see what happens in the morning. I don't know what else to say to make it better though," Severide sighs. "I didn't exactly have the best home life either you know. Matt there's something I need to tell you about the arsonist…"

"Morning boys," Clarke greets them as he enters the locker room, both of them giving him a nod before they give the other a silent 'we'll finish this later' and then both take their leave; Severide going to find Shay to tell him about moving in with Casey to help with the boys and Casey going in search of breakfast as he didn't get a chance to eat at home. But just before Casey gets to the open area, his phone rings and he's quick to answer it.

"Who was that?" Hermann asks as he looks at Casey's perplexed expression. "Trouble?"

"Not sure. Be right back."

"Casey! Who was it?" Hermann presses.

"You sure you're okay with this?" Shay asks Severide in wonder. "I know things have been strained."

"But this is Matt asking for help, not Heather. Besides…I get why she picked him, I really do."

"Really?"

"Yes and I agree with it. This will work…it has to Shay for Andy's sake. But you know if you ever wanna babysit," Severide wags his brows.

"Send them to grampa Benny."

"Yeah, great plan," Severide offers her an eye roll. "He's having issues as of late."

"With…what's the new one's name again?"

"Beth," Severide groans. "And yes…don't ask but you know maybe he could use the distraction. Between this and the damn arsonist…I just can't believe this guy."

"You think you know who it is?"

"I'm sure of it. It's Hadley."

"What?" Shay asks in shock. "Have you told anyone yet?"

"Just you and the Chief's next."

"Kelly…"

"Yeah I'm working on proof," Severide tells her as he spies Boden at the end of the hallway. "I gotta talk to the Chief."

Severide pulls away from Shay and heads for Boden, cornering him in the hallway and telling him outright that he thinks Hadley is the arsonist.

"Hadley? He's a damn good firefighter Kelly. I'm not buying it," Boden tells him first; not realizing that a call later from Benny would add support to Severide's theory.

"I know there are others on the suspect list but I have a bad feeling about him Chief. It's Hadley."

"If you want to start accusing someone of something this serious, especially a firefighter, you better have something more than a bad feeling."

"Chief…"

"We need solid proof and the arson investigators are working on it. Let them handle this. How'd it go with the Darden boys?"

"I'm moving in to Casey's tonight. He needs the help and I gotta do it for Andy."

"For Andy and the boys, remember that. And it'll help give the boys a little more stability. Focus on that and focus on the job. We'll figure out who the arsonist is."

"Sure," Severide huffs as he pulls away from Boden; wanting to get into the eating area to have breakfast and try to get his nerves to settle a little. He wasn't fooled into thinking that moving into Casey's house and helping look after the boys would be easy – far from it. Regular family life was hard at best. It takes effort and hard work and he didn't exactly have the best parental role model; even now his father didn't know how to have a solid home life. But he knows he owes it to Andy and to Casey and wasn't about to turn Matt away in his time of need. He'd move his stuff in and maybe with him there he could focus on Ben and let Casey spend a bit more time with Griffin.

Severide enters the kitchen area and looks around for Casey; seeing everyone but him but wanting to tell him that he had texted his father and Benny had agreed to help him move his stuff in after shift. And he also wanted to tell him who he suspected the arsonist to be.

"Hey Hermann, where's Casey?"

"Got a texxt from you'll never guess who…." Hermann smirks.

"Yeah who?" Severide asks a bit distracted.

"Hadley."

"What!"

A/N: Okay so I know in the show Shay and Severide will be roomies again but I want our boys to be roomies in this story so Kelly's moving into Matt's (yes there is a method to my madness muwhahaha) but that of course will cause new and added tension for this very new makeshift family! But…duh duh duhhhhhhh really? Hadley's meeting with Casey? yup told you this story would have some twists different from the show (hey I gotta keep this sep from my eppy OS's somehow haha) and since this is a multi-chap story the prison visit and ice cream outing is coming (think Heather will be surprised to see Kelly there also). So please do review before you go as I'd love your thoughts on Kelly and Matt making peace, what you think is in store for this new make-shift family and what on earth Hadley needs from Casey.