Title: Growing Pains
Chapter 14 – A Desperate Race

"Damn him!" Severide curses as his palm hits the steering wheel in anger. Of course he didn't expect them to just kiss and make up as it were, but he, did in all honesty expect a better outcome. Why didn't he just listen to reason! Severide's mind inwardly growls, telling himself that Casey and the boys were fine as Hadley wasn't about to make a move against Casey and leave the boys on their own. That thinking would prove false.

He thinks about the intense anger that clung to Hadley's words and now wonders if anything at all could get through to his former squad member. His past…he could get help…he needs help…needs to let go of his inner pain…hatred…damn he needs something.

Severide nears his father's place and feels his stomach tighten further. He's going to be pissed when I tell him, Severide correctly assumes as he stops his car and then gets out, slowly heading up the cement sidewalk. But he doesn't even get the chance to knock, when Benny's angry face appears in the now open door.

"Kelly, I told you to stay the hell away from Hadley!"

"Good morning to you to dad," Severide grumbles as his teeth grit. "Matt called you?" He gently hisses as he follows his father inside where they could argue sight unseen from the neighbors.

"Yes he did but he shouldn't have had to!"

"You're right," Severide argues back. "He shouldn't have called you at all!"

"What happened Kelly?" Benny asks pointedly.

"What did Matt say?"

"I asked first."

"What did Matt say?" Severide growls; neither one backing down.

"All he said is you went after Hadley and for me to talk some sense in to you! Why didn't you listen to me? What happened?"

"I wouldn't have had to if your investigators were doing their job!" Severide shoots back.

"Don't put this on them. They at least follow orders!" Benny snaps as Severide's arms fold across his chest. "I made it clear. What were y…"

"Kevin Hadley and Heather Darden are related," Severide states flatly.

"What?"

"They are half brother and sister and at one time had a romantic relationship until their birth father told them."

"How did…"

"Oh and one of the old guys, Jason Cooper, who was basically a father figure to Hadley says that some chemicals have been stolen from his place recently; the same chemicals that Hadley's been using on his arson rampage!" Severide's voice ends in a small shout. "I ask again…what exactly have your investigators been doing dad?"

"How'd you find this all out?" Benny asks in haste.

"Wasn't that hard. Started with an emergency contact name on Hadley's original application form to 51."

"That form is confidential!"

"Hadley was on squad, you don't think a few drunken confessions might have offered the same information?" Severide snaps in return. "Which maybe at the time in the past meant nothing, but do now! Matt and I followed that name and that led us to…"

"Half brother and sister and they were…"

"Yeah romantically involved."

"Damn," Benny curses as Severide nods.

"You want motive? That coupled with his hatred for being ousted from 51 is pretty strong reason for revenge."

"If I wasn't so pissed at you and Matt for not listening, I'd be impressed! Why didn't you come to me with all this sooner?"

"We just learned it," Severide replies as both tones drop a few angry decibels. "I was going to tell you but…"

"Did you just confront Kevin Hadley?"

"Yes."

"What happened? Kelly if you…"

"We argued and tossed a few punches and argued and yelled…and then…he pulled a gun and I left."

"A gun? What?"

"Your passive approach to anything…oh just let the damn chips lie where they fall doesn't always work!"

"Oh and your barging in head first with both guns blazing does?" Benny counters as both give the other a warning glare. "You could have done…"

"What dad? Forced him to escalate things? He's already attacked Matt twice and threatened to kill us. You think I didn't know that going in there?"

"What about the two Darden boys? You think about them at all when you went in there halfcocked?"

"Hadley's backed off of them," Severide relates in truth. "Look you need to get whoever you have on the CPD working with you to arrest him. Antonio's been helping out right?"

"And tell him what? You two had a macho pissing contest?"

"That he pulled a gun on me!"

"He wouldn't have if you hadn't been there!"

"That's kinda moot now!"

Benny's lips offer a heavy sigh as he looks at his son and shakes his head. "I think I feel sorry for Matt having to put up with you," he tosses out lightly as Severide's face finally softens. "Okay…just…start from the top and tell me everything."

XXXXXXXX

Casey finally pulls himself away from phone, hearing the soft clumps of little feet upstairs and races to find an excuse to give the boys as to why Uncle Kelly wasn't around at the moment; not realizing that both boys had overhead the argument and know Uncle Kelly isn't at the store. But Casey had sent a text to him, saying that he should stop by the store to pick up some bacon so as he least he could tell the boys that Uncle Kelly went to the store and the story would hold clout once they saw the evidence in the groceries.

Looking down at his pajama's Casey slowly heads upstairs to get dressed for the day, his lips muttering in an undertone the folly of Kelly's ways and why going to see Hadley would only prove to be a futile endeavor.

"Uncle Matt!" Ben exclaims as he runs and jumps on Casey's bed just as Casey pulls his sweater over his head. "Where's Uncle Kelly?"

"We heard you two fighting this morning," Griffin pipes up as Casey turns to see the older Darden boy standing in the doorway, Ben still jumping on his bed before he slams down on his back and looks up with a flushed face.

"Come here," Casey gently entreats as he sits down on his bed, Ben quickly sitting up and Griffin slowly sitting down. "I know the past few days have been tense around here between me and Uncle Kelly, and I'm sorry it's affected you two, but we're still very close friends and still care for you both very much. Nothing will change that okay?"

"Did Uncle Kelly move out?" Griffin wonders.

"I don't want Uncle Kelly to go," Ben looks up with a sad pout.

"No, Uncle Kelly did not move out. He just needed to talk to someone and…"

"Someone from work?" Griffin interjects as Casey nods.

"Yes, he used to work with us at 51 but was transferred out to another House and it closed and he's…not taking it too well. I told Uncle Kelly just to leave him alone but…"

"He went there to talk to him? Why?" Griffin continues as Ben's head nods and Casey's lips slightly smirk.

"Because he thought that maybe this person would listen to reason and I said he wouldn't."

"Why?"

"Because…that's what some adults do."

"Is Uncle Kelly gonna be okay?" Ben's turn to wonder.

"He's going to be just fine," Casey replies with a tense expression. "In fact he's going to stop by the store on his way home and get us all some bacon and we can have with our pancakes. How does that sound?"

"Great!" Ben smiles as Griffin nods but remains silent for a few minutes.

"Griff?"

"I just like when we're all happy the best."

"Me too. Okay tell you what, when Uncle Kelly comes home, we'll have a great breakfast and then go down to the park and play some football. How does that sound?" Casey asks, not knowing that plan wasn't going to come to fruition.

"The park? Yeah I like that. Then can we come back and have hotdogs for lunch?"

"Sure we can," Casey smiles, as he hugs Griffin close and plants a tender kiss on the top of his head. "In fact…if we want, we can clear off the barbeque and put some grill marks on those dogs. Whadda ya say?"

"YES!"

Both boys nod and smile excitedly, making Casey's agitation slightly drop. But as he sends them on their way to get dressed for the day, he looks up at the clock and frowns. He should have called by now, Casey's mind ponders as he straightens up his bedspread and then heads into the hallway. Even if just to chew me out for calling his father about going to see Hadley.

Casey reaches the bottom of the stairs with a new gnawing feeling in his stomach and inwardly groans. He tries Severide's cell number again, of course not realizing that Kelly's phone was on but on silent and taped to the bottom of Hadley's car; the plan of course to catch Hadley in the act of starting a fire and nail him once and for all!

"Come on Kelly…pick up," Casey gently hisses as he hangs up. For a brief second he contemplates calling Benny but then figures that maybe it would come across as too mothering and decides to drop it. Benny probably called him and Kelly's sulking and…damn this needs to end already!

But just before Casey can pull open the fridge to see what else they might need for breakfast, he hears a small 'clang' in the backyard and heads toward the window to investigate. He draws back the curtain slightly and notices a man in black, duck behind the shed with what appears to be a bottle in his head.

"Uncle Matt?" Griffin calls out as Casey freezes in place.

Casey rushes back to the bottom of the stairwell, shoving on his runners as Griffin looks down in wonder.

"There's someone outside Griffin. Stay here with Ben and don't come outside!" Casey tells him firmly as he takes his phone and rushes for the back door.

"What's going on?" Ben asks in haste.

"Stay there!" Griffin shouts as Ben as he hurries down the stairs, Ben watching at the top with a curious expression.

"HEY!" Casey shouts as he reaches the bottom of the back stairs; his shout loud enough to make even Griffin stop in his tracks in the house.

The man turns to Casey and his tracks stop as he recognizes the man from the amusement park. Hadley's accomplice the man who would be later identified as Ralph Jones, Graham's cousin!

"Where's Kevin Hadley?" Casey asks angrily as the man lights the small amount of material at the end of the bottle.

"He sends his regards," Ralph states slowly.

Molotov cocktail!

"You put that out right now, the cops are on their way," Casey tries to bluff as he offers Ralph an angry gaze; Griffin watching from the window with wide frightened eyes.

"What's going on?" Ben asks again as he hurries up to Griffin's side and peers out the window also. "Who's that?"

"I don't know," Griffin replies in sarcasm.

"Is that a torch he has? It's on fire," Ben mentions as Griffin shrugs.

"I'll make you a deal," Ralph starts in a low tone. "You come with me right now and I'll put this out."

"I don't thi…" is all Casey manages before a small handgun is produced.

"In fact…I insist."

Casey's mind races with two terrifying alternatives. Go willingly and face Hadley's wrath which could mean his death but the boy's life, or try to fight which could start a fire, harm the boys and himself in the process.

"You come with me right now. Quietly."

But the internal battle is almost over before it even begins as Casey doesn't waste a second in dropping his shoulder and…charging.

"Forget it!" Casey growls as he charges, his body slamming into his would be attackers and forcing the two of them to stumble backwards. Ralph's left hand drops the already ignited bottle, forcing a small explosion to occur and both boys inside to offer a frightened gasp.

"We have to help Uncle Matt!" Ben shouts as they watch a few licks of fire starting to hungrily make their way toward the new wooden shed.

"I'll call Uncle Kelly," Griffin suggests as Ben nods. "He's not answering," griffin replies glumly a few moments later.

"The shed's on fire!" Ben laments sadly.

"I'm calling the fire department!" Griffin declares as dials a second number.

Meanwhile, Casey tries to pull himself free of Ralph, wanting to get his phone and call for help. But a swift strike to his already wounded hand forces his lips to gasp and a small yelp to be produced. He kicks Ralph in the knee and tries to pull away, Ralph swinging the gun and clipping Casey in the temple.

The fire in the meantime, determinedly making its way toward the small shed, the four of them had worked on together.

"Hurry Griffin!" Ben states anxiously.

"What's our address here?" Griffin asks as the operator tells him it's okay, the home number was already registered and help was on it's way.

"They'll be here…soon…" Casey pants as he punches Ralph in the jaw. But being a bit of a street fighter, the match had already been determined. A swift knee to Casey's mid-section and a chop to the back ensures Casey's gently gasping frame is taken down for the count.

Ralph finally manages to upright himself, both boys watching in horror as Uncle Matt is kicked one more in the stomach and then dragged away by a man they've never seen before.

"Where's he taking Uncle Matt?" Ben asks in fright.

Casey struggles to pull himself free, hearing both boys scared voices calling to him; begging him not to leave them all alone. His vision slightly blurs as smoke gently teases his lungs, his brain trying to push past the throbbing from his hand and chest as he's dragged toward the open trunk.

"NO!" Casey tries to shout as he's struck once more in the temple, taking him down for good and allowing Ralph to stuff his unconscious frame into the trunk, slam it shut and then speed away to the location Hadley had given him.

About fifteen minutes later, Engine 51 and Truck 81 pull up to the back and front of the house, it still being a regular day off for Casey and Severide's team, but a familiar face having picked up a shift and rushing toward the back door as the rest race to put out the fire in the back yard before it spreads.

"Hey guys, where's Matt or Kelly?" Hermann asks in haste.

"He's gone," Ben looks up sadly.

"What? Which one?"

"Both."

"You're here alone?" Hermann asks in disbelief as both boys nod.

"That man burnt our shed."

"What man?" Hermann presses as he looks at Griffin in haste. "What's going on?"

"We saw some man fighting with Uncle Matt and then…they disappeared."

"When?"

"A bit a go. He was a stranger."

"What?" Hermann half shouts as he pulls his phone and calls Antonio. "Where's Uncle Kelly?"

"Him and Uncle Matt had a fight about some guy from work and Uncle Kelly took off somewhere," Griffin tries to relate.

"Okay the guy you saw with Uncle Matt. Did you know him?"

"No. Never saw him before."

"Even at the firehouse?"

"No."

"Okay, what'd he look like?" Hermann inquires as Griffin's face gently screws. "Tall, short, skinny, fat…? Anything?"

"He was um…black like Chief Boden and kinda tall…like you I guess," Griffin shrugs as Hermann can't help but offer a small smile.

"Uncle Kelly said he's coming back," Ben utters in remorse as Hermann looks down with a worried expression. "He's going to come back right?"

"Yeah kid…they both will. Hey Antonio. Hermann here…you got a sec? We got a big problem. I'm at Casey's. When can you get here? Yes it's urgent."

XXXXXXXX

"So…that's the whole story," Severide finishes as Benny literally stares at him with his mouth slightly agape.

"Why didn't you tell me any of this sooner?"

"Because I would have gotten the lecture to stay away."

"From minor pestering yes, but this is solid background information Kelly. It's actually useful."

"Don't sound so surprised," Severide lightly smirks. "I did learn a few things from you."

"At least you have stuck by those you care about. Me…"

"This isn't the time for that confession," Severide tells his father in haste as Benny nods. "That's between you and…who is it right now?"

"I guess that's fair. Those boys need you and Matt needs your help. But you should have come to me sooner. Fatherly advice over. Now…" Benny starts as his phone rings. "Hey Antonio, what's up? Kelly? Yeah he's right here."

"Antonio? What's going on?" Severide asks in instant panic as his mind starts to race.

"Ben? Is that you? Whoa slow down…what do you mean Casey's house is on fire and he's been taken. Put Antonio back on. What's going on?"

"Dad, give me that," Severide snatches his dad's phone. "Antonio?"

"Matt and the boys have been trying to get a hold of you Kelly."

"I don't have my phone," Severide groans as Benny looks at him in wonder. "What's going? What do you mean the house is on fire and where's Matt?"

"The boys saw him struggling with a stranger. He was black, tallish and…"

"Wait, black?" Severide looks at Benny in dread. "I know him."

"You know him? Kelly, what's going on?" Benny demands.

"Antonio, put a trace on my cell number."

"Why? Where is it?"

"It's in Hadley's car," Severide confesses as Benny's head shakes. "I thought this might help. Look trace that number and we can catch him before…he hurts Matt. Are the boys okay?"

"They're scared. Hermann was on an extra shift today and he's going to stay with them until this is all sorted out. There was a small fire but it's been put out. Okay I'll get on this and get back to you."

"Hurry."

"What the hell do you mean your phone is with Kevin Hadley?" Benny demands as Severide hangs up.

"Look it was all I could think of. I planted the phone, figured I'd come back here and…damn…he has Matt," Severide growls as he starts to pace.

"He'll just keep him on ice until…what?" Benny asks a Severide looks up in dread and shakes his head.

"Not this time. He told Matt, he'd kill him and I believe him," Severide states in remorse. "This is…my fault. Dad…"

"Nothing can be done about that now. Antonio will get the number and we just have to hope that we stop it before anything further happens."

"I made a promise to those boys…that we'd both be around to help take care of them until Heather was out."

"Then let's end this right now," Benny states gruffly. "Let's go get Matt."

XXXXXXXX

Casey's mind slowly starts to come around, his head throbbing and watery eyes taking a bit of time to focus before they finally do. However, when he does – panic instantly seizes him. It wasn't so much that was situated on a cement floor in a windowless warehouse; it was the company and the situation he finds himself in.

"Welcome back," Hadley grins down to his captive.

"mmmmph!" Casey looks up with an angry growl, nothing but a slight muffle escaping the thick cloth forced between his lips and tied tightly behind his head – effectively gagging him. With his wrists tightly bound behind his back with rope and his ankles bound as well, escape without help would be moot.

"It was simple really. Stay the hell away and you'd all be okay. Now…" Hadley pauses as he turns around and then back to Casey with a small cup filled with his trademark accelerant in it. "Since you didn't listen, you have to pay the price."

Casey tries to argue back, but it's moot; the gag keeps his speech garbled and his captor merely looks down in amusement; Ralph standing guard by the door.

"Always figured it was just Kelly who wore the title stubborn turncoat but I guess…maybe it is a 51 thing. Either way, two of the biggest troublemakers in that House will now pay for their sins."

Casey's eyes narrow as he watches Hadley pull a lighter and then gesture to Ralph to come and get it.

"You know what to do."

"Man, are you sure about this?" Ralph asks he looks down at Casey's panic-stricken expression.

"Do it!" Hadley hisses as Ralph nods and pulls away, Hadley kneeling down to Casey's eye level. "In about five minutes this place will start to fill with putrid smoke and Kelly…well he'll get a call in about thirty minutes. Remind me…how long does someone need to die or be severely injured from toxic smoke inhalation?" Hadley snickers as he grabs Casey's chin and yanks his head forward.

"mmmph!" Casey growls as he tries to jerk his head free.

"I'm tired of you two ruining and now meddling in my life and now I'm going to rid myself of that FOR GOOD!" Hadley shouts as he pushes Casey's head back in contempt. "You'll probably die today…hope you made peace with the boys and god," Hadley tells Casey seriously, neither of them realizing that both Antonio and his partner, and Benny and Kelly were on their way – two different directions, no sirens but speeds just as fast and furious.

Casey's nose picks up the faint smell of diesel in the distance and panic instantly sets in. Oh damn…he does mean to burn this place down with me inside! Kelly! HELP ME!

"I just might be able to sleep peacefully tonight for once," Hadley smiles as he lights the second homemade bomb and waves it before Casey's narrowed eyes. "See ya in hell Casey."

Casey struggles in vain as he watches Hadley head toward the other end of the warehouse and set the small homemade explosive device a few feet from the back door, which Casey surmises will be his escape route. He hears Ralph rushing toward him as the smoke behind him starts to thicken and the heat to slowly build; his panic, however, skyrocketing.

"We gotta leave or we'll be trapped also!" Ralph declares in a panic.

"Oh we can enjoy the show a bit longer," Hadley walks back up to Casey; the other device now starting to smolder in the distance – ready to fully ignite. "Smell that Matt? Death? You know it well…wonder how it'll smell with your traitorous corpse mixed in?"

Casey looks up with an angry gaze, muttering something incoherent but feeling his eyes water and nostrils flare as the toxic smoke starts to tease them all with its deadly offerings.

"Kevin!"

"Just wait!" Hadley growls in return. "We have time…." he falsely utters. "Matt here doesn't, and I want to relish in his failure a bit longer," Hadley offers Casey an evil smile. "Isn't that right tough guy? Who's gonna save you now?"

But before he can start to think too much of his brilliant plan, time shows him the folly of his ways and not to be playing with powers beyond his control.

Ralph hurries up to Hadley.

The two explosive devices starts to gain fiery momentum.

Severide pulls up outside.

"You sure this is the place?" Benny asks as they look at the windowless structure.

"Antonio said the tracking showed Hadley's car out back. Come on…he'll take the back and we'll take the front."

Severide and Benny just get out of the car when the unthinkable happens.

*BOOM*

The front of the building literally explodes right before their eyes, forcing Severide to stumble backward and a tormented cry to escape his lips as he looks at it in horror.

"MATT!"

A/N: uh oh…well you know it was coming right? The kidnapping and the guilt. Muwhahaha yup evil laugh intended hehe did you like the boys helping? At least they helped keep the timing close right? And now Benny knows the whole truth. But will Kelly get to Matt before something really bad happens to him? Will the boys lose an Uncle? #savecasey wink* and what will Hadley's final fate be? Please do review before you go and thanks so much!

PS: yay we finally got some real broments in the last eppy and hope you all liked my last One shot 'A little too soon?" thanks!