A\N: Dear wonderful readers, my heart feels so warm and fluffy when I read your reviews so please keep sending them! Also, so that we're clear about the timeline, the story's set a little less than a year prior the TV show. And remember, your feedback = my inspiration.
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"Can you hear me?" But the features of his face were blurry and my head felt awfully dizzy. "Can you hear me?"
"You still with me?" Only then I realized that I've been staring at the fire truck for probably quite some time.
"Yeah…of course." I nodded and sprinted after Gabriela, the paramedic. "Sorry."
"It's ok, they are impressive."
"But you see that every day." I smiled softly.
"Yeah, but you know, every time you see the guys jump down the pole and work as an automatically functioning team in a matter of seconds, trust me, there's nothing like it." She smiled to herself.
We proceeded into a small corridor and turned left, passing what looked to be a kitchen where two men were sitting with cups of black liquid.
"Casey!" Gabriela called when we neared a small office.
The door flew open to reveal a tall athletic-built blonde with blue eyes. He looked young, but I guessed that he seemed younger than he really was. He looked like he was trying to take a nap right there on his desk and was rudely interrupted:
"What?"
"There's someone here to talk to you."
He looked confused after a glance at me.
"Do we know each other?" His voice was a little rough and held a dense impact of an accent, I'd say, Australian.
"I'm Harper. I'd really like to talk to you about the fire your crew was on five days ago on Madison St. if you don't mind." I said, extending my right arm for him.
He nodded finally getting an idea of what was happening and after shaking his head to rid himself of reminder of slumber took my hand for a moment and showed me into his office, nodding to the paramedic who stayed behind.
"I'm Matthew Casey. So, the Madison Street. Big one, how did you happen to be there?"
I took a sit he'd showed me:
"I stayed a night at my friend April's apartment. She didn't make it."
"Sorry to hear it. So why are you here?"
"I…I wanted to thank you for saving me if it isn't obvious." I chuckled a bit and he smiled at that, grinned even. "Now when I talk about it, it sounds pretty stupid. Like whatever did I really come here for? It's just…I don't know…as if I really wanted to make sure you existed. All I remember is that it was very unclear, foggy from all that smoke. I couldn't see, breathe, and there was a moment when I thought that I was a goner. But then one of your man or you, I don't now, just appeared out of the blue and picked me up and…I think I fainted then."
"Well whoever it was, it wasn't me, so the praises are misplaced." He smiled kindly and reached to pat my shoulder. "Whoever of the guys it was, it's our job, so you don't owe us anything. Although your gratitude is more than enough."
"I know it's your job but for me it's my life."
"Ok, I'll tell you what, you talk to Severide, he's in charge of Squad 3, they were there that night too and they are the ones that get people out while we put out the fire."
"Really? Thank you! I hope this isn't any imposition…"
"Don't be ridiculous, if the sirens start going off then we'll think about it." He smirked and stood up. "Stay here, I'll go see if he's in the earshot."
"Thank you." I smiled again and when he was out of the door tried to scratch my bandaged hand.
The office was very small, furnished only with a table and a chair, two wooden chairs in front of it and something that reminded of a sofa but I wouldn't risk it. It really looked like a poor thing was leaving off the last year. There was a clock on the wall opposite from the table. I hate clocks, the ticking…I don't have any clocks home, use my phone for that. It started when I was little, I just took all the clocks out of my room because I couldn't sleep even with the slightest ticking.
My thoughts went flying out of the window when the door opened again and the man from the hospital, the one with grayish eyes and stubble and the annoying pixie remarks.
"Pixie?" And there he went again.
But I was still a little shocked though I did manage stand up from that very uncomfortable chair.
"Yeah…yeah, me again. And you…"
"Yeah, me is me." He smirked when I stopped talking.
"Can you be serious? Ever?" I send my hands in the air, hurting my left hand with a fast move, that made me grind my teeth together and produce a strange sound: like a drunken rocker slash an injured doe.
"Told you to be careful with that hand of yours, haven't I?" And I didn't exactly notice how he materialized at my side and was inspecting my hand.
The unwanted traitorous shivers emerged and the little hairs at the back of my neck stood out as I watched him examine my hand.
"It was you, wasn't it?" I asked and though it was a whisper, my voice sounded harsh even though I tried to smooth it a little.
"Whatever you're talking about, Pixie?"
I reluctantly took my hand back and cradled it to my chest. He finally looked up to my face.
"I know it was you. You got me out of the burning house."
"I take out a lot of people out of lots of burning houses. It's what I do. But you're wrong. It wasn't me. There was a lot of smoke and from what I can tell from you voice you've inhaled a good portion of it. Your mind was probably shutting and you imagined that it was me. The truth is, it was probably one of my guys or one of Casey's guys so it would not be right to take their credit. But really, Pixie, I'm flattered that you think it was me." And he sat on the edge of the table.
"My name's Harper, not Pixie." I answered and truthfully I felt disappointed, don't know why exactly but I did. "I really thought it was you. Sorry I took a lot of your time,…"
"Kelly. But everyone here calls me Severide."
"Kelly." I pulled scarf closer. "Bye."
I didn't wait for an answer.
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"What's really wrong with you?"
Matt's voice loomed over Kelly who was sitting with his face in his hands on the couch.
"Nothing."
"But this girl. She was right. You got her out. That night we saved two people: her and a guy. And you took her out. Why would you let her think otherwise?" Casey was confused…and even more confused looking at his friend's reaction.
"Since when are you eavesdropping?"
"Since you've become a moron! A hot chick comes over to thank you for saving her life and you send her off. Tell me there's nothing wrong with the picture!" Matt took a sit beside his friend.
"Not interested in hearing this!" Kelly barked and stormed out.
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"Harper!" I snapped out of my thoughts and tried to distinguish the direction of the sound. "Over here!"
Halfway to my left was a paramedic truck with Gabriela and another young blonde woman dressed exactly the same in dark grey trousers and a grey shirt. Gabriela was trying to tie a corset but to no avail.
"What are you doing?" I generated a small laugh and both girls joined me straight in.
"This is my Halloween costume. We have this party – well, more like a gathering of friends at the bar tonight, I decided to lighten up for an outing a bit!" Gabriela suggested still fighting the cloth.
"Let me do this." I offered and when she turned her back to me, I didn't waste much time and started lacing her corset adjusting it so it would fit her body nicely.
"So did you find what you came here for?" She asked while trying to stand still.
"Not exactly. The opposite even, I guess." But I smiled.
"Wow, you seem to be a pro at that!" Her blonde friend noticed, eyeing my work on the corset. "I'm Leslie."
"I'm Harper." I smiled, nearing to the bottom with my lacing job. "Yeah, I've had to lace my share of corsets. There you go, looking very nice in it."
And we laughed again because the white corset was placed atop her uniform and looked right out ridiculous.
"You know, you should come to the bar tonight!" The dark skinned paramedic suggested and her blonde friend started nodding enthusiastically.
"Are you sure it's gonna be ok with your friends?" I asked hesitating.
"Of course!" They both said in unison.
"Well sure." I nodded and took out my phone to type in the address. "Why not?"