Title: Growing Pains
Chapter 12 – A Final Warning?

Casey's eyes dart from the front windshield to the side mirror, his mind paranoid now that Hadley was following them and would try something that could possibly put the boys in harm's way. But why would he want to hurt his nephews? Just to satisfy the hatred for his father inside?...revenge on Andy's friends? Hatred for life in general, his own and everyone else's?

Severide glances over at Casey, knowing why he was acting a bit tenser than normal and wondering if he had seen anything worth being worried over. Casey gives him a small head shake; the two young boys in the back blissfully unaware of the danger that was lurking.

"Looks like the day will be pretty okay," Casey mentions as both boys look up in wonder.

"Do they have rides still set up?" Griffin inquires.

"I think…they might?" Casey looks over at Severide who offers a genuine shrug. "If they do…do you want to go on them?"

"YES!" Both boys shout at once, their exuberant reply helping to ease some of the mounting tension. As soon as they reach the park's parking lot, both adult males look around for any signs of trouble.

"I'll get the ticket," Casey calls out as he hurries for the parking stall dispenser. He shoves his credit card into the slot and then looks up. At first he notices the maintenance worker watching him as he goes about cleaning the park area, picking up some discarded litter and tossing it into a nearby garbage can. Casey's gut offers a small, but odd feeling as he looks back down and punches in the stall number, the time needed and then selects his amount. He looks back up to see the man quickly look back down; 'pretending' to concentrate on something at his feet. You're just being paranoid…it's nothing…you are letting Hadley's anger get to you and label everyone suspicious besides…it's just an odd coincidence he looks like…

"Matt?"

Casey looks up as Severide approaches with a concerned glance. "Machine is slow."

"What's up?"

"Nothing," Casey answers in haste as he turns back to pull his card out. But just as he does, he glances back up; this time Severide's eyes following Casey's. When they both look at the man, he casually finishes up his task and then slowly moves along – not really drawing any out of the ordinary attention to himself.

"It was nothing…"

"Except the fact that guy looked like…"

"An older Graham? Hadley's friend," Casey concludes.

"Yeah okay I got that too."

"We're just being paranoid. Jason said he died."

"Jason said Hadley told him Graham died. Maybe that was a lie too."

"Okay damn I just…" Casey's voice starts, only to be quickly interrupted by an innocent question.

"What's going on?" Griffin interjects as he and Ben near them.

"Nothing," Severide replies with a forced smile. "You boys ready to go?"

"Got the ticket," Casey replies with an uneasy smile as he holds up the small piece of paper, wraps his hand around Griffin's shoulders and then hurries back to the car, his eyes glancing up to see where their mystery watcher had gotten to.

The four of them head toward the entrance to the amusement park, the rest of the area slowly filling with families and other groups; taking advantage of a relatively nice fall day, the weather crisp and clear but no threat of rain or something to dampen the mood of the weekend.

"Okay so…who likes fast rides?" Severide asks as both boys quickly raise their hands and wag them in the air; Casey only offering a sheepish expression.

"Really Uncle Matt? You don't like fast rides?"

"How about the drop of doom!" Ben shouts as Casey shakes his head.

"Bumper cars?" Casey tosses out weakly; as both young boys laugh.

"Remind me again what you do for a living?" Severide snickers as they near the ticket booth. "Four."

"What?" Casey turns to Severide with a small grumble.

"Griffin can't ride alone and you don't want him to be all sad and dejected right?" Severide teases as Griffin looks up with an instant mock sad face.

"Oh that isn't fair," Casey sighs as he turns back to the ticket taker and nods in confirmation of the four riders; two adults and two children.

"Trust me I brought an extra barf bag."

"Ewwww Is Uncle Matt gonna barf on me?" Griffin asks with an upset face as Casey can't help but laugh.

"No. I don't mind the fast rides but…but I will not go into the haunted houses."

"But you go into burning buildings and those are scary," Ben quips as Severide chuckles.

"Losing battle here man," Severide slaps Casey on the back. "But that's okay when we go in, we'll all hold hands."

"Not comforting," Casey growls as they head for the entrance to the ride. "What's this one called?"

"Highway to hell," Severide smiles as he nudges Casey, showing him four young teens watching him with amusement. Casey looks down at Griffin and gives him a small headshake before he slowly climbs into the car and then puts his seatbelt on and then pulls down the safety bar.

"You can hold my hand if you get scared Uncle Matt," Griffin tells him seriously.

"Why thank you."

The ride operator calls out that the ride was about to start, the other operator checking all the bins to make sure everyone was properly buckled in and that no injuries would occur. Casey's eyes quickly scan the surrounding area, Severide's doing the same – both of them having the same odd feeling – Graham Bixby could still be alive. The ride starts out normally, gently pushing them forward, slowly gaining momentum. Just as they round their first bend, Casey's head snaps to the right his mind frantically racing as he sees what thinks…Hadley? Was that Hadley with him? No…now I'm just really being paranoid.

However, Casey's worried eyes weren't the only ones to have seen that brief glimpse…Severide's head quickly turns to see what he thought was red hair walking beside a black man…the same black man they saw earlier. I think I'm just paranoid…damn I hate this. We have to end this…I have to find Hadley and confront him with the truth. Screw the investigation!

"Did Uncle Matt survive?" Ben asks as he clutches Severide's hand as they head toward Casey and Griffin at the ride's exit.

"Did you survive Uncle Matt?" Severide asks with an amused smile.

"No," Casey offers a mock pout as Ben laughs and points at his silly face. "But…I will not be going on another one of those just yet."

"Oh come on…you have the momentum now."

"Take them on a three seater," Casey suggests as Severide nods; knowing that he could only push Matt so far with teasing before he had to stop.

"Okay…who wants to go on the polar express? It goes backwards!"

"ME!"

"Have fun," Casey gestures as they slowly head toward the other fast moving ride. The amusement park saw its busiest times during the summer and as soon as school started, the owners scaled back the rides to less than half, leaving the most popular, along with a few games and some concession stands. The intrepid group of four didn't mind as both men wanted to spend some time outdoors while the weather was still agreeable but not overdo it either. Casey pulls his camera and starts to take a few pictures of Kelly getting into the middle of both boys, making sure they were all strapped in and then wrapping his arms around their shoulders; another photographic moment caught in the camera's memory to show their worried mother.

As Casey watches the ride start up he can't help but wonder what he should tell Heather. Heather…I know the truth. I know Kevin Hadley's your brother and that…you two were an item in high school…damn I can't say that…how about…I know the truth about Hadley and that he's your half-brother…

Of course he knows she'd get mad because he's sure with a secret that tormented, both would have sworn to secrecy the moment they found out. Your father told us. Either way he knows…he knows as soon as he tells Heather the truth, nothing will ever be the same between them. And? And part of that question was right. Despite the fact he knows that Heather was interested in possibly pursuing more, he just wasn't ready. And you want someone else like Hallie again…while that is true he wonders if he'll ever find another woman who would consume him as much as his past love. Never…his mind laments in sorrow.

Happy laughter pulls his stormy gaze back up to the ride, watching with a small chuckle of his own as the three of them zoom past. But…something moving to his right causes him to look up. Nothing…Hadley's not going to make a move with all these people around! Of course in that moment, he couldn't help but wonder if Hadley was watching and what he was thinking. Revenge? Toward the boys? Remorse? Regret? Anything that would make him soften in his stance toward an all-out assault – going down in a blaze of glory as Benny Severide had so fatefully offered. I hope for the boy's sake he…he what, comes around? When did things get this messed up? Maybe it was better to be ignorant and just wonder as to a motive instead of knowing the whole sordid truth.

But Casey knows he can't go back…none of them could; they would just have to move forward and hope the situation ends swiftly and peacefully. Sadly only one of the two would come true.

"Did you see us Uncle Matt?" Ben asks eagerly.

"I sure did! Okay…who's ready for the bumper cars?"

"Haunted House!" Griffin teases Casey with a poke to his stomach, making Casey reach down and hoist Griffin into the air, making the young boy laugh.

"Okay…okay…." he laughs as Casey slowly puts him down, Griffin gently swaying and then clutching Casey before he falls over.

"How about…hoop toss?" Severide suggests, wanting to give the boys a chance to calm down after the two very fast rides.

"Sure," both Ben and Griffin shrug as they all head toward a cluster of about five games. In the summer months it would have been almost impossible for the boys to take their time picking a game and then actually getting ready for it.

"Okay aim for…"

"I know what to do," Griffin snaps as Casey gently snickers and pulls back his hand. The boy lines up the ball and then tries. He misses the first two baskets and then easily gets the third.

"Here…" the game operator hands him a small stuffed basketball. "It's been a slow day."

"Hey thanks!" Griffin looks up at Casey with a smile. "Now we can play in the house and won't break anything."

"Yeah…good plan Uncle Matt," Severide mockingly growls as Casey as he tries to snatch the ball from Griffin's hand. But it's not as easy as at first seems and within seconds the plush toy pops loose from everyone's grasp, sails through the air and then rolls under the edge of a nearby concession tent and out of view.

"I'll get it!" Ben shouts as he quickly scampers after the ball; Severide in tow. Ben rounds the corner and then stops short as he sees a man with red hair reach for the ball, pick it up and hold it for a few seconds before he tosses it to Ben.

"Thanks Mr. Fireman," Ben offers with a friendly smile as Hadley quickly disappears from view; Severide rounding the corner a few seconds later.

"You're supposed to stay in view at all times!" Severide gently scolds; not knowing that Hadley was mere meters from his present location.

"A nice fireman tossed me the ball."

"Yeah? A fireman huh…where'd he go?"

"Don't know but he a jacket on that looked like the one you wear at 51," Ben explains as Severide's grasp on Ben's hand tightens. His agitation instantly skyrockets as he starts to look around for Hadley, taking a step toward the part of the tent Hadley had ducked into but then stopping when they hear Casey calling out to them.

"What's wrong Uncle Kelly?"

"Nothing," Severide replies slowly. "Come on…never leave my side again Ben. It's not safe. You don't know if that man really wanted to hurt you."

"But firemen don't hurt people. You told me that, right Uncle Kelly?"

"Right," Severide resigns with a heavy sigh as Hadley sinks back against the heavy canvas and curses.

Firemen don't hurt people. As much as he wants to carry out his last plan of attack against the two men that stood against him professionally, hurting his nephews just wasn't in the cards anymore. The trusting look on Ben's innocent face and hearing the words about him not hurting people stabbed him to the core. 'I'll bring my boys around Bruce. You'll love them. They're great boys.' Hurting the boys was wrong. The planned changed in that moment. But the motive of revenge was still very strong. He looks out and notices Casey and Severide laughing about something and feels his core tighten and his eyes narrow. They would still have to pay.

But just before he can take a step toward them, a hand clamps down on his shoulder and he turns around with a small growl.

"What's going on? You had the right moment to grab the boy."

"Plan's changed," Hadley hisses under his breath as he pulls away and then heads in the opposite direction of the four on the other side of the tent.

"Completely?"

"Graham wouldn't want me to hurt the boys," Hadley mutters under his breath as he turns and looks at Casey and Severide once more; his anger surging toward them alone. His gaze lingers for a few seconds longer before he slinks back into the shadows and disappears from view.

"What did he see?" Casey asks in a whisper as both boys try to win at the next game.

"I think it was Hadley. Ben said he saw a fireman and I asked if he had red hair and he said yes."

"Damn," Casey whispers under his breath.

"He had the chance to snatch Ben if he wanted…he didn't."

"Remorse?" Casey suggests.

"Maybe toward them. I still want to confront him," Severide states through gritted teeth.

"Kelly…no wait for…"

"Did you see Uncle Matt? Did you!" Ben exclaims as both men turn to see the red lights going off.

"Yes!" Casey quickly lies to save face. "Great job!"

"What'd I win?"

"Can I have that toy fire truck?"

"Sure thing kid," the operator hands Ben the plastic fire truck with a button that actually flashed the lights. "Here's a spare battery too."

"Cool! My uncles both drive fire trucks."

"Really…cool," the teen shrugs as both Casey and Severide offer him weak smiles before they all turn and leave the last game.

"Okay in order to keep Uncle Matt happy, we'll do the bumper cars next."

"YAY!" Casey shouts, along with Ben and Griffin, making a few people stop and offer amused glances.

"And then…the Haunted House."

"Boo!" Casey growls as both little boys laugh.

As they head toward the bumper car setup, both adult males can't help but contemplate just how daring Hadley was. He was…mere feet from Ben and then possibly only a few meters from where they were all gathered. Waiting? Lurking? Plotting….what? That fireman…he's your Uncle…your mother lied…damn! Casey knows that no matter what he might tell or discuss with Heather, it was her place to tell her children about their Uncle. It wasn't his. What a mess!

"I want the green one!"

"I want the red one!"

"I want the one with the biggest bumper!" Severide chimes in as Casey shakes his head and hands the operator the appropriate number of ride tickets. He looks down at his bandaged hand, offering it a small frown but not wanting to put the possibility of reinjuring it in the spotlight and ruin the happy mood of the boys especially.

"EVERYONE READY?" The ride operator calls out; a few more people joining in the fun and all set to go. A loud buzzer sounds and soon the area around them is filled with noise and laughter. The four of them mostly concentrate hitting each other, the boys daring to hit a few others their age but not anyone older; Casey and Severide having no issue bumping into other adults but getting the most satisfaction with hitting each other; knowing in real life they weren't allowed to that with their own personal or professional vehicles.

"Hey! I'm stuck!"

"Not for long!" Severide laughs as he pushes it toward the side of Casey's wedged car. A firm bump to the side and he pops free, is able to swing around and hit Severide head on; the two boys then quickly joining in the melee and hitting each adult male on either side. About five exhausted minutes later, the ride horn sounds once more, signaling it was coming to a close and then the cars go quiet…landing in place and the lights going dim once more.

"That was fun!" Ben exclaims loudly as he rushes ahead with Griffin in tow.

"You need to tell your father before you do anything," Casey reminds Severide as they walk behind.

"You think Graham is really alive?"

"I don't know…I doubt it. I think we are both just on edge and paranoid by all this that it could be him. I think if Hadley still had Graham around things would be different."

"Yeah…maybe," Severide pauses as he stops and looks at Casey directly. "Unless he's just as twisted."

Casey can only mutter under his breath as they catch up to the boys, making a small deviation before the next few amusements to get something to eat and just take a few moments to rest.

"Hey the lights on this thing actually work," Severide holds up the little toy fire truck in amusement. "Just needs a 3 painted on the side."

"And somewhere for Joe to sit," Ben references his large GI Joe figure at home.

"Hmm I think we need a miniature Joe for that one."

"Mini me!" Ben looks at Severide and grins as Severide's arm wraps around the boys shoulders and gives him a playful hair ruffle. "Hey!"

"Uncle Matt's too far out of reach," Severide playfully retorts.

"Very funny."

"You let him give you a noogie?" Griffin wrinkles his nose as he looks up at Casey.

"I don't exactly let him."

"He just can't stop me."

"Oh is that so?" Casey banters back as Severide smiles and nods.

"Who's stronger you or Uncle Kelly?"

"At what?" Casey smirks.

"Me," Severide states proudly as Casey quickly shakes his head in protest. "Wrestling match at home to claim strength superiority?"

"YES!" Both boys shout at once and then laugh; Casey just shaking his head in defeat.

"No more playing physical games in the house…we don't need anything more broken."

"Uncle Kelly can fix anything. He's rescue man!"

"Yeah Uncle Matt," Severide sticks out his tongue and then laughs.

"Well just for that, Uncle Kelly can offer his superior strength in cooking the rest of us supper tonight."

"YES!" Both boys shout again as Severide's lips purse and Casey's face displays a triumphant smile.

"You do know where we're going next right?" Severide tosses back as Casey hangs his head and playfully moans.

The friendly and playful, often childish banter continues for the next hour as the four of them sit at the outdoor table, eating and talking and just enjoying the time spent together as a small makeshift family. Teasing each other in good fun and then talking about Jason's offer of the outdoor skating adventure when the weather gets colder. But as the conversation starts to wind down, both men are once again alert to the fact that they were being watched and Hadley could be closer than they think, waiting to cause trouble.

"Can we go in the Haunted House now?" Ben asks eagerly.

"Do you still want to go Uncle Matt?" Griffin asks with a small frown.

"You can hold my hand if you're scared," Ben offers as Casey rewards him with a kind, sympathetic smile.

"Thanks…I'll be fine. Yes, we'll all go."

Both boys race ahead to the ticket operator and wait for the older ones to catch up.

"Anything?" Casey asks in a low tone.

"No. maybe…maybe that moment with Ben pushed him back."

"Maybe but then…"

"Yeah I have the same feeling also…he's still here," Casey exhales heavily. "Let's just get through this last ride and then maybe play some ball in the backyard at home or something…away from watching eyes."

"You don't have to come in there if you don't want," Severide nods as he notices Casey's jaw set.

"Going into a dark building with hidden traps?" Casey shrugs. "I get paid to that, right?"

"Matt…"

"Let's go."

"Right," Severide grins as he slaps Casey on the back. They pay the ride operator and then all head for the front entrance, each of them taking one of the boy's hands so that no one got lost.

"It's cold in here," Ben remarks as they step onto the somewhat spongy surface.

"The floor feels weird," Griffin comments next.

A few seconds later, when they are in the middle of the dimly lit hallway, a door pops open and a ghastly creature cloaked in black and green springs upon them and a scream is emitted.

"You scream like a girl Ben!" Griffin snickers.

"Nu uh! Wasn't me!"

"It was Uncle Matt," Severide gently snickers as Casey tries to utter something in his defense.

"I need my scanner," Casey huffs as they all shuffle down the hallway, heading toward a turn that would lead them into another part of the spooky attraction. "Then I could see….AHH!"

Both young boys explode once more with laughter as someone jumps from the shadows and purposely grabs Casey and offers a very loud "BOO!"

"Want me to hold your hand Uncle Matt?" Severide teases.

"Oh would you?"

"This place isn't that scary," Griffin states as he looks up at Casey with a small smirk. "I've been on scar….AHHH!" He utters as the four of them all stop as the floor starts to give way and Griffin slightly stumbles. But it's only a minor shaking and all remain in place until it passes.

"Scaredee cat!" Ben tosses out, instantly earning a small reprimand from Severide.

"Ewww are those wax people?"

"Maybe…they're…REAL!" Severide shouts as he turns and makes a scary face; forcing Griffin to lightly jump and Casey's lips to offer a small gasp before a curse.

"You're making dinner, dessert and doing the dishes."

"I thought you were my slave," Severide snickers as Casey shakes his head.

"These faces are really…AHHHHH!" Ben literally screams as one of the wax figures opens its eyes and offers a creepy 'BOO' before starts to weave between them all. Ben tries to fold himself into Severide's grasp as Casey looks at the creepy figured with a tight stomach.

"Welcome…to my home…" the paid employee whispers in Casey's ear as his hand rests on his shoulders. "Would you like…to stay awhile?"

"Uh no…thanks," Casey replies as Griffin snickers and then shudders when the employee looks down at him with a black toothed smile.

"You need to brush your teeth mister," Ben offers and the mood instantly lightens.

"Yeah kid I know," the employee chuckles as he offers a big smile to Ben and then falls back into place; allowing the four of them to slowly continue.

Next they enter the kitchen where another creepy sight awaits them.

"Mmmm anyone hungry?" Severide chuckles as they look at the fake cut up body parts being served on the table.

"Second thought, Uncle Matt's gonna make us supper tonight."

"Gee thanks," Severide groans as the other three laugh.

This one had no real employees, only some moving mechanics to add to the creepy feel of the scene. The four of them head toward a thick curtain that would take them into the final part of the attraction. Severide goes first, with Ben and Griffin in the middle and Casey last.

But just as Casey's about to break through the curtain, two strong hands reach out from the dark and pull him back, one hand clamping down over his mouth and the other around his neck.

"The game's changed Matt. You two will die for what you learned!"

A/N: ah you knew Hadley wasn't too far behind right? so maybe the moment with Ben did soften him a little toward his nephews but his anger is still there for Casey and Severide. Do you think Severide will make things even worse with a confrontation? Or will it actually help? And will Matt tell Heather? Any thoughts as to her reaction? And what danger is waiting? Muwhahaha (Yup had to get the evil laugh in there) please do review before you go and thanks so much.