A/N: Thank you to everyone for your constant support! It really means a lot! You guys might get a few more updates this week because I have no school this week! Again, thank you for all the support and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter! R&R!

Everyone at Firehouse 51 dreaded this day. It came every year, but each year it seemed get harder and harder. It was the anniversary of Casey and KJ's parents' death.

Every year, KJ stayed home from school, and instead hung out at the firehouse. No one knew how to comfort her. Everyone knew it was unhealthy for her to keep her emotions bottled up, but no one could seem to get through to her.

That morning, Casey walked in holding KJ, her arms and legs wrapped around him, head resting on his shoulder. She had on some Giants pj bottoms coupled with one of Kelly's old squad sweatshirts. He gently set her down on the couch, covering her with a soft blanket and placing a kiss on her forehead.

Everyone looked up from their breakfast to stare at Casey with eyes of pity. Thankfully, Casey was saved from their sad gazes as the alarm went off, calling the attention of truck, squad, and the ambo.

When they returned to the house, KJ was nowhere to be seen, as expected. Kelly looked up at Boden, who gave him a knowingly sad nod.

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"Hey Junior," Kelly said through the fence. "Why don't you try choking up a little bit? It might help." KJ continued on swinging, not even bothering to look back at Kelly who was on the other side of the batting cages.

Kelly knew her annual routine by heart now. Come to the firehouse in the morning, go to the batting cages while they were out on a call, go grab something to eat, watch ESPN for the rest of the shift, and then end the day with a movie night, snuggled up next to Matt, Kelly, and Shay, all while managing not to let a single word slip from her mouth the entire day. KJ had not been to her parent's grave since the funeral ten years prior. Kelly knew she shouldn't grieve like she did, keeping her emotions bottled up, which is why this year he was determined to break down her walls, to at least get something out of her.

"Try to level your swing out," suggested Kelly, knowing his constant advice would annoy the hell out of her. He waited a couple of minutes before he said anything else. "Junior, you know letting all your anger out on these tiny little balls isn't going to solve anything. You're only hurting yourself by keeping all of your pent up anger inside. And think about your brother. Imagine how he feels every year when you come out here. He doesn't know how to comfort you any more than the rest of us. And you know what's even worse? He's grieving too. He grieving the same exact loss as you are and," At this point, KJ couldn't take it anymore. She threw the aluminum bat to the ground, along with her helmet, and spun around to look directly at Kelly through the fence. When Kelly saw KJ start to turn around, he was glad that he was finally able to get through to her. However, he was definitely not expecting what he saw. There were tears streaming down her face, eyes red from crying.

"You think I don't know that Kelly?" she screamed. "You think I didn't hear him crying in his room this morning just like every other year? Or that I don't know where he goes when he says he's 'goin out for a drink'? He goes to their fucking grave! He goes to their grave because he knows I'm too scared and stubborn to go with him! I know I'm the cause of so much of his pain and that I'm such a burden to him! He should be dating and going out for drinks every night but instead he's constantly watching over a 16 year old girl! And all this day does is reminds him of that! So, yeah, I will unleash my fury on these tiny balls because I don't know what the hell else to do! What am I supposed to do Kelly?" At this point, KJ broke down on her knees, sobbing. Kelly rushed to the other side of the fence and picked her up in his arms.

"Shhh, Junior. It's okay. Everything gonna be alright. Shhhh." His attempts at trying to calm her down began to take effect. Her body, tired out from her rant, finally gave into sleep. Kelly gently placed her in the front seat of his car and drove back to the firehouse.

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As soon as Kelly got back to the house, he placed KJ on his cot and went back into the common room.

He quickly pulled Casey aside to tell him what had just happened.

"Dude, what the hell happened?" Casey asked worriedly.

Severide ran his hands over his head. "She was at the batting cages like usual. I could tell she was angry so I tried to get on her nerves in the hopes that she would open up to me. She finally did, but you know KJ. She keeps everything bottled up for so long that it finally explodes all over the place. She said that today reminds her how much of a burden she is to you. Then she just broke down, crying," Severide replied, sighing.

"Shit," Matt said, rubbing his hands over his face. "Alright, thanks man. I'm gonna go talk to her," he said, patting Kelly on the back.

Casey walked to Kelly's room, opening the door slowly. He sat down on the bed, gently touching his little sister's face with his fingers. She finally began to wake up, shocked at who she saw.

"Matty," she whispered.

"Come here, baby girl," he said, KJ then snuggling into his lap. "I love you, ya know that, right?" Casey asked, placing a kiss in her hair.

KJ slowly nodded into his shirt.

"Hey, look at me," Casey said, lifting up her chin with his fingers. "You will never be a burden to me, okay? I love looking after you. I get to watch you grow into the most beautiful young woman I've ever seen and I'm so lucky for that. I'm so proud of you, alright? I wouldn't have my life any other way."

A/N: Anyone have ideas/suggestions for KJ's real/birth name? Would love to hear them!