Chapter 6
They were due for something good to happen.
The arrest of "Nicco Suave" and his gang hadn't done a damn thing to stop the rash of fires that were coming at an alarmingly faster rate than ever before.
Now the police were starting to question the connection between the wanna-be mobsters and the arsonist.
Kelly and Boden…Casey…and all the rest of the firefighters were convinced there was a connection. At least there was in the beginning. Now even with Nicco and his boys locked up at 26th and California the fires kept coming…at least one a week. It appeared their arsonist had gone renegade.
Last shift they had gotten a call to back up a Downtown company on a high rise job on the Gold Coast. Kelly's first thought had been Hollywood…but the address was about a hundred off.
Squad 3 brought a man down from the thirty-ninth floor…it was his apartment that was the seat of the fire. The man…a guy in his early to mid-forties was outside the actual unit by that point…but he seemed kinda out of it. He looked like he was trying to get back into the raging inferno that was once his home.
As Severide and Mills brought him down, all Kelly could hear was the guy wailing. His actual injuries didn't seem that bad…but then again, burns could hurt like hell…no pun intended. But Kelly had definitely seen worse.
But what struck him was the man's near incoherent rambling…
"God!...No!...No, no…no!" he cried. "First my store…now my house! Oh, God! Oh, my God!"
Once that registered, Kelly realized this was one of the business owners that had turned down Nicco Suave's security service…
Now the poor guy really and truly had lost everything.
It also confirmed his theory…at least in his mind…that there was a connection…and that there was still a very real threat out there.
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They were due for something good to happen. And little things did…
Hollywood set it up so the kids got to be extras on the show again. This time their scene was set on play ground. The boys were seen chasing one another across the shot…right in front of Maggie on the swings.
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Halloween rolled around…and this time Maggie did her own trick-or-treating…sort of.
Andy and Jesse didn't have a chance to run their "candy for my baby sister" scam…when Kelly brought Little Red Riding Hood up to the door. The boys rang the bell…but when the neighbor opened it, Maggie ducked behind Kelly's legs.
Once her brothers had collected their candy Kelly looked behind him at the little girl doing her best to stay hidden.
"What do you say, Maggie?" he asked.
She looked up at him with those big teal blue eyes and the little lip turned out just the tiniest bit.
"C'mon, Baby Girl…" he cajoled. "Just like we practiced at home…"
Maggie looked up again…like she couldn't believe Daddy was gonna make her do this.
Slowly, the little basket poked out from behind Kelly's legs…followed by a little head with two tiny pigtails…
"Tweet?" she said softly…almost so softly you couldn't hear her.
The neighbor smiled…it was the cutest thing she had ever seen. Everyone on the block knew the Severide kids…and this little one was always hanging on her daddy.
The neighbor bent down and put a couple pieces of candy in Maggie's basket.
"There you go, Sweetie…"
Maggie's eyes went wide at the sight of the treats in her basket.
"Canny, Daddy!" she cried happily. "Canny!"
Kelly could barely keep a straight face.
"See…I told you." He said. "I told you you were gonna get candy."
And Maggie did her little happy dance…right there on the neighbors' porch.
Kelly couldn't help himself…he just burst out laughing right then and there.
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November came and the team celebrated Thanksgiving at the diner…and all Alyssa's brothers and nieces and nephews were there as well. The "family" had grown so much that the restaurant was the only place that could hold them all together. And it was the only place that had an oven big enough to cook half a dozen birds…almost a hundred and fifty pounds of turkey.
Chief stood up at the head of the table…that stretched all the way down the length of the room…and said they had a lot to be thankful for. Capp was coming back…Hermann was coming back…Mouch was doing great after having quadruple bypass surgery two months before. The kids were all happy and healthy. He took a minute to praise Declan's efforts in his training program for the CFPTA. If his first quarter's grades were any indication, the boy was on his way to making straight A's for the semester.
"We're all truly…truly blessed…to have so many people so committed to one another…so many people who'd do anything to help and care for one another. I personally count everyone at this table as a part of my family."
"Amen…" several people agreed in unison.
"Dad? Can we eat now?" Andy asked.
That got everybody laughing.
"Yes, Andy…" Kelly said once he pulled it all together. "You can eat now."
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But there was still a dark cloud looming over them.
It was bound to happen…Kelly ran into Darren Chesnick…this time at a neighborhood pizza place. He had spent the whole day hauling Christmas decorations out of the basement and setting up trees…plural…stringing up lights…and hanging dozens and dozens of ornaments.
Tomorrow he'd tackle the outside lights.
"Severide…"
He heard his name as he strode up to the bar in the restaurant.
He turned around to see Chesnick sitting there…playin' with the label on the long neck in front of him.
"Chesnick…good to see you, man."
"You have a nice holiday?"
There was a hard edge in the man's voice…almost accusatory.
"Yeah…it was good." Kelly replied, choosing to ignore whatever Chesnick might or might not be implying. "How 'bout you?"
"Watched football…polished off a twelve pack…had a couple frozen TV dinners."
Kelly didn't answer.
"You pickin' up dinner? For the family?" Chesnick asked, right before he drained the last of his beer.
"Yeah…Lyssa and I were busy all day." Kelly said. "How 'bout I buy this round."
He signaled the bartender for two beers…and sat down on the stool beside Chesnick.
"So what've you been up to?"
The conversation was awkward…strained. It was like Darren was angling for something…like maybe another invite to dinner?
"Same shit as before." Chesnick answered. "Workin' out…that's pretty much the high point of my day."
Kelly wondered why this guy didn't do some kind of other work. Nearly every firefighter he knew had some kind of side line…Casey had his construction company…Mills had the restaurant…Mouch was planning to go back to his security job he'd had for years…once he was finished with his rehab from the heart surgery.
Kelly still worked on boats for a few of his long time clients…but now he had the consulting work on "Chicago Fire".
So why had Chesnick decided to be a gym rat?
He wasn't even paying attention…then he realized Darren had asked him a question.
"Huh? Sorry…I kinda stepped out for a minute." He said apologetically.
"I was askin' if you ever play handball."
Kelly shrugged.
"I haven't in a long time, why?"
"I thought maybe we could play some time…"
"Sure…sounds good." Kelly replied. "I gotta work tomorrow. But after shift…that'd be fine."
Just then the hostess came out from the kitchen carrying his pizzas…an individual stuffed spinach and mushroom for Alyssa…a thick crust double sausage and pepperoni for him and the boys…and a slice of cheese for Maggie.
Kelly dropped some money on the bar to pay for the beers…
"So give me a call tomorrow and we'll figure out a time and everything…okay?" Kelly said as he went to collect his dinner.
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Kelly wasn't sure what had possessed him when he had agreed to meet Chesnick for a game of handball at the gym. He hadn't played in years…and there was something about the enormous ex-firefighter that gave him the feeling this wasn't gonna be just a friendly game.
Man was he ever right.
From the first serve…it was all he could do just to return the ball…Darren was like a madman and his nearly seven foot arm span gave him a distinct advantage.
Kelly was an aggressive player…he'd never done anything half assed in his life…but Chesnick…he was out for blood.
Darren slapped a hard shot against the front wall…but Kelly knew he'd have no problem returning it. That is till his opponent slammed into him at top speed, knocking him out of bounds. He tried to stop himself…but he wrenched his right knee…just before his shoulder slammed into the wall.
"AAAHHH! God…damn it!"
Kelly tried to stay on his feet…but he slumped against the wall, to keep from hitting the floor.
Leaning his back butt against the wall he doubled over, one hand on either side of his knee.
The pain was enough to cast dark spots across his field of vision.
"AAAHHH!"
He looked up at Chesnick.
"What the hell was that?!" he yelled. "We're just playin' a goddamn game! What're ya hittin' like that for?!"
"Sorry…I tripped."
"Bullshit!"
Kelly straightened up…and put one hand against the wall for support…and gingerly shifted his weight onto his right leg. He had to stop almost the second he put his foot down. He took a couple deep breaths and tried again…just a little weight on the leg. He managed something between a step…and a hop.
Chesnick was watching every move he made…not saying a word…not offering anything in the way of an apology. And not offering to help.
Kelly's blood was boiling…and that anger helped fuel his next hobbling step…and the next…and the next.
It took a few minutes…but he managed to grab his water bottle and his towel and hobble off the court. He stopped in the locker room long enough to grab his gym bag and his jacket…and managed to make it out to his car.
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Once he was sitting inside he pounded the steering wheel with his hand to release some of his anger…and some of the pain.
He contemplated what to do. Should he call Lyssa to come? And take him to the ER? The pain was that bad…and he reached for his phone to do just that. But he stopped. The ER meant a medical report that would find its way into his record at the department. That meant medical furlough and follow-up appointments, and probably rehab. It would be the third time he'd injured his knee…and this wasn't job related. That would be more than a red flag…that would be a frickin' Fourth of July firework show.
He slammed his hand against the steering wheel again. No…he had to pull it together.
He took another deep breath…let it out slowly…and started the car.
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The drive home was excruciatingly painful…and he pulled into his driveway and parked right in the middle…not up in front of the garage the way he usually did. He needed to get as close to the door as he possibly could. He was tempted to drive onto the lawn.
He hauled himself from the car and almost fell on his face when he tried to take a step.
Just one more…just one more…just one more.
That's what he kept telling himself as he hobbled to the porch steps.
He let himself in the back door and slumped back against it as he closed it behind him.
"Alyssa!" he called out.
He squeezed his eyes shut against the waves of pain that were crashing over him.
"Alyssa!" he called out again. "C'mere! I need you!"
But he heard tiny feet slapping against the hardwood floor as Maggie came running at the sound of his voice.
"Daddy!" she cried out happily as she ran toward him.
"Maggie! No!" he yelled. "No!"
Maggie skidded to an abrupt halt.
Daddy never yelled at her before.
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Alyssa came out into the playroom. She saw the look on Kelly's face and went right to his side. He reached for her just as Maggie's face screwed up and she plopped down on her butt before she let loose with the tears.
"Kelly…what happened?" Alyssa asked him over the wails of their daughter.
"My knee…" he choked out. "Help me…I gotta get off it…"
He leaned heavily on her shoulder as she half carried, half dragged him across the four season's room to the leather couch they had there. He could hardly even help her…he could barely support his own weight.
She deposited him…then scooped up her daughter into her arms.
While Kelly struggled to get himself into a comfortable position…if one even existed…Alyssa tried to calm Maggie.
"Shhhh…it's okay Baby…" she whispered. "Daddy didn't mean to yell."
"Bring her here…" Kelly said.
Maggie's cries were breaking his heart.
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He shifted on the couch so Alyssa could sit beside him…crying out in pain as he did.
Alyssa perched herself on the edge of the sofa with Maggie in her arms.
Kelly reached out to his daughter and Maggie just cried louder.
"Maggie…Daddy's sorry…" he choked out. "I didn't mean to scare you…Baby Girl…Daddy's sorry…"
But Maggie continued to cry.
Alyssa got to her feet.
"Shhh…" she whispered as she bounced the baby in her arms. "Let's go get Daddy some ice…"
She gave Kelly a long look.
She felt as bad as he did…and she wanted to comfort him…but Maggie needed her more.
It was like she was torn in two.
"Shhh…" she continued to whisper as she carried Maggie with her into the kitchen.
Kelly could hear the freezer door open and shut…and the drawer where they kept the towels open and close. Then he heard the freezer…or was it the fridge…open and shut.
Then Maggie was quiet.
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When she came back he saw that Maggie had her pink princess sippy cup.
Alyssa set the baby down and grabbed the throw pillows off the loveseat that sat next to the couch. She carefully guided his leg so it was resting on the pillows…then laid the towel across his knee and finally eased the ice pack against it.
Even with her gentle touch he still arched his back and sucked in his breath.
Then Alyssa sank down to her knees beside him…and he grabbed for her hand…crushing it in his. She rubbed her other hand across his shoulder…making slow, rhythmic circles…whispering softly all the while.
All those things together worked magic. Kelly left himself get carried away in the softness of her voice…the soothing pattern of the circles she was still rubbing against his shoulder.
"Shhh…" she whispered to him now. "Nice deep breaths…nice and slow."
When he was finally in control again he loosened his grip on her hand. Slightly.
"What happened, Baby?" she asked.
"Chesnick…he slammed into me…and I twisted it."
Alyssa's mouth settled in a hard line.
Kelly told her everything…the game, how aggressive Chesnick was playing…
Now it was Alyssa's turn to take a deep breath…and try to get some control.
"Kelly…stay away from him." She said. "I know you want to help him…but there's something wrong with him. He's dangerous."
As he lay on the couch in the playroom holding onto his wife…and trying to coax his baby girl to come closer…he wondered if Alyssa could be right about Chesnick.
Was he really dangerous?
