Title: Plan B
Chapter 22 – Don't Tempt the Devil

"Daddy!"

"I'll handle this Kelly," Casey tells his friend as Pauline had already turned and headed back toward her car.

"Matt…"

"Take Aurora for something to…Kelly don't…" Casey warns as he stands between Severide and an advancing Gish.

"Who wants some cookies?" Brett takes Casey's cue and then nods to Cruz to come help; Mills wanting to linger, getting a first glimpse at the man who was allegedly responsible for his father's death.

"Come on," Cruz whispers to Severide as he tries to nudge him toward the kitchen.

"You're not welcome here!" Severide's voice growls as he turns with Aurora still in his grasp and follows after Brett and Cruz; Mills standing firm at Casey's side as Boden approaches Gish.

"What do you want?" Boden asks Gish looks at Boden's imposing figure.

"I wanted to leave some flowers for Lesley Shay."

"A bit after the fact," Boden replies firmly. His reply, however uncaring it might seem, is meant to try to goad Gish into his real intentions for coming. However, Gish, drunken by his own self-imposed power, betrays himself by allowing his eyes to dart in Severide's direction and then back at Boden.

"The talk with the firefighter today spurred these actions. Can I leave them here? Or is there a gravesite…"

"You can leave them here," Casey interjects firmly as Gish's eyes dart from Boden to him. "On the table when you leave."

"Thank you. Such a terrible loss," Gish tells Boden with a cryptic smile.

"Good day," Boden adds in a clipped tone.

Gish's eyes dart once more to Severide and then back to Boden, giving him, Casey and finally Mills a nod before he turns around and takes his leave; his lips whistling a quiet tune.

"That was the guy that killed Shay?" Herrmann asks audibly as Mills looks at him sharply.

"And my dad," he adds sourly before he turns and storms away; Herrmann in tow.

"Chief…" Casey starts as Severide heads toward them at a determined pace.

"He has every right to walk into a firehouse and leave flowers for anyone," Boden quickly reminds both his angry lieutenants as they offer him a less than amused glare. "I don't like it either, but he hasn't broken a law by…"

"He murdered Shay!" Severide's angry voice booms just as Cruz rounds the corner with Aurora on his shoulders. Severide looks at his daughter and then back at his superior with a head full of steam.

"I don't like it either but it's all a game to him and we can't let him win."

"He should be behind bars," Casey adds with a heavy sigh.

"He should be DEAD!" Severide counters loudly as he pulls away and heads back toward his daughter.

"What's wrong daddy?" Aurora asks as Severide nears. He looks up at her sweet face with a remorseful expression and feels his heart sink a bit further. The more you give Gish to work with the hungrier his desire to destroy you and all you love. Now…it's personal.

"See you soon Lieutenant Severide," Gish's voice offers, followed by a small laugh as he pulls away, glancing up at Firehouse 51 in the rear view mirror and smiling before he disappears from view.

"Nothing's wrong sweetheart," Severide lies to his daughter as he takes the cookie she's offering; still perched on Cruz's shoulders as he bounces her up and down. Just as he swallows his phone rings and he's quick to answer.

"Just got a call from the unmarked car following Gish," Erin starts. "Said it stopped there?"

"Yeah he came to leave flowers for Shay," Severide replies in an undertone as Cruz takes Aurora back into the kitchen; Casey hovering near Severide.

"You gotta be careful. He's never done this before."

"Well if he does it again, it'll be his last!"

"We think he wants that too."

"Erin…" Severide tries to protest.

"Listen, he's dangerous. He wants you to come after him."

"I don't care!" He snaps before he hangs up and then looks at Casey with anger flashing in his sapphire pools. "I want that bastard DEAD!"

"Let him go and cool down," Boden tells Casey as they all watch Severide storm down the little hallway and then disappear into the room with the punching bag.

"Chief, I'm worried."

"I am too but unless Gish breaks the law there's not much we can do. If he does start to harass Severide, he can apply for a restraining order, especially because of Aurora. But I don't think Gish will allow himself to be penalized like that," Boden explains. "It's been a long day and he needs to go home."

"Got it," Casey nods as he heads for the hallway to check on his friend before he gets his goddaughter. He can't, in reality none of them can blame Severide for his bitter anger as all of them were left incensed at Gish's taunting appearance. It was done, not out of genuine concern or remorse, but out of a desire to prove himself in control once more – gloating that he can walk around and seemingly get away with whatever he wants.

Casey hears Severide's lips offering a few angry grunts and pushes the door open to see Severide's balled and unprotected fist striking the punching bag with extreme prejudice.

"BASTARD!" Severide growls as he stands back and looks at Casey with a small scowl. "He doesn't deserve…to just walk around…like he's in…charge!"

"I get it," Casey sighs as he slumps down onto a nearby bench and looks up at his friend in remorse. "I wish I could help but I know if I go and say anything to Gish to warn or threaten it'll back fire and you or Aurora or anyone could end up getting hurt…or worse."

"I just…" Severide starts and then stops, pulling back when he finally feels a small stinging in his left wrist. "These guys…think they are untouchable and damn…he's right! We can't touch him! He can do whatever the hell he wants and we have to just take it! AHHH!" Severide adds one last kick to the slowly spiraling bag before he slumps down onto the same bench a few feet away from Casey's tense frame.

"He's…making it personal," Severide admits with a small gasp; his lungs and chest heaving from the sudden workout. "I can't let it go. Every time I look…at Aurora I just…can't let it go."

"And…he's counting on that," Casey adds softly as Severide looks up and then lets his frame sag backwards onto the set of lockers.

"He just walked in here…he saw her Matt. He saw Aurora, he heard her and knows she's my daughter. "

"If it were up to me and Boden…hell your father, Erin, any of us we'd let you go at Gish and then take our chances with an assault charge. It'd be a slap on the wrist done in the heat of the moment. But with Aurora. Kelly…he could really screw things if you go after him."

"I know," Severide admits with heavy defeat. "I know."

"Knock knock!" Cruz calls out as he enters with Aurora at his side. "She missed you."

"Daddy! Look what I have."

"What's that sweetheart?" Severide asks as he puts her onto his knee and then looks up at Cruz with an expression of gratitude. "Thanks."

"Anytime," Cruz replies as he steps back into the hallway, leaving the door open at Casey's urging.

"What is that?"

"Cooz made it," she holds up the little macaroni dog for them to see.

"Oh CRUuz made it," Severide corrects with a smile as he holds up the object and both he and Casey snicker.

"What's its name?"

"Noooodle," Aurora answers with a giggle as Severide smiles and kisses her cheek.

"Noodle is the perfect name," Severide smirks as he hands the object to Casey who stares at it in amusement.

"I think we can take noodle home with us," Casey suggests as he hands it back to Aurora. "Careful not to break him."

"Or drop in boiling water. Then we'll have to eat him," Severide grins and wags his brows.

"No daddy!" Aurora gasps as he tries to take the object from her father.

"Hey hold on a sec squirt," he chuckles as he lets her carefully take it back. "Don't hurt it."

"You can't eat him!"

"Okay okay," Severide offers in defeat as he hoists his daughter into the air, Casey standing up the same time as his friend.

"I already talked with Boden. Let's just go," Casey tells him in truth.

"Okay," Severide agrees as he bounces his newly energetic daughter in his grasp. "Who gave her cookies?" Severide playfully groans as he enters the kitchen and reaches for one of the chocolate chip cookies.

Casey hears the strain in Severide's voice and knows that his friend is once again putting on a brave face for his daughter and other lookers; fooling the former but not the latter as everyone around was feeling inner agitation growing toward Adrian Gish. But he had told Casey that Aurora came first and that even included his own mental sanity.

"See you both tomorrow," Boden tells them as he gives Aurora a kiss and then smiles at her.

"Bye bye Uncle walleeeeee," Aurora giggles as Boden looks at Severide in wonder.

"I…" Severide stammers with a sheepish shrug, "have no excuse Sir. Sorry. We just watched that Disney movie Wall-E and I told her Wallace was your first name, shortened is Wally but we don't…"

"Kelly," Boden interrupts in haste, "I'm not mad. See you tomorrow."

"Way to go squirt, getting daddy in trouble," Severide teases his daughter as he pokes her in the side eliciting a small giggle. Just as they get outside, Severide notices Erin's police car pull up and stop. "I gotta make amends," he admits with a small huff as he hands Aurora to Casey.

"Hey sweetie," Erin greets Aurora as she passes by, the little girl offering her a happy wave before her and Casey get into Severide's waiting car. "Hey sweetie," she teases Severide as she approaches; Severide greeting her with a smile before her expression turns serious.

"Sorry I hung up like that," Severide admits with a small head shake.

"Well…fortunately for you I'm not a girl who offends easily," Erin retorts as Severide's expression softens. "I know it can't be easy to see Shay's killer walking around…"

"Taunting us?"

"Trust me I want to get this guy too but he's…he's upping the stakes now. What else happened?"

"He uh…he saw me with Aurora. Heard her call me dad and he…he has to be stopped. Then Boden stepped in and he left. Where is he now?"

"Home. Or what we think is his current home. He's a transient so I doubt he'll stay there very long. The only stable thing right now in his life is his job. And trust me when we interviewed a few co-workers they think he's a quiet guy but not a bad guy."

"Naturally," Severide adds with a sour note.

"But his cockiness could work in our favor. He might just think he can set another big fire and…"

"Watch as he kills someone?"

"He has a few new friends from the CPD now. If he goes near an abandoned building we'll search his car for anything that can be used for starting a fire and arrest him on suspicion. Then we'll let Voight at him."

"Voight's scary but…Gish is…he's not…he's evil and that's scarier."

"Just be careful okay?"

"Okay. Have a good night."

"I actually came to see Chief Boden," Erin replies with a smile.

Severide can only offer her an amused smile as he watches her head into Firehouse 51 and then turns and heads toward his car and gets in.

"Who was that daddy?"

"That was Erin, a good friend of mine."

"Okay," Aurora shrugs as she goes back to playing with her doll. On the drive home, both Casey and Severide keep the Gish talk to a minimum, and instead asking Aurora about her day with Gramma Pauline.

"So where are you going to put noodle?" Severide asks as he sits on his daughter's bed, about half hour later.

"Right here," Aurora tells her father as she places the little piece of homemade art on her pink and purple dresser. Severide watches with amusement as Aurora talks to her little toys and then looks at her father with a sweet smile. "Can I sleep with him daddy?"

"No sweetie. Noodle would be squished and I'm afraid then…we'd have to eat him," Severide snickers as he pulls his daughter into his grasp and starts to tickle her little pajama clad sides.

Casey hears the sweet laughter and can't help but smile, his hands pausing as he finishes putting away all the rest of the supper dishes. But at the same time the dark cloud that is Adrian Gish looms over head, threatening to dampen all their fun and permanently damage their future.

Casey knows he can only remind his friend so many times, mostly after the first time to make himself feel better, but Severide already knows the danger that Gish brings. This just needs to be over, Casey's mind laments as he hears the laughter starting to subside and knows it's time for Aurora to go to sleep.

About ten minutes later, Severide returns to the kitchen and eases himself down into a nearby chair and looks up at Casey with a heavy frown.

"Think I should suggest to Pauline to take Aurora out of town for a few days? Just until we get Gish?"

"A few days? Kelly…."

"I know…I know," he huffs as he rubs his face and then looks at Casey in near defeat. "He can't hurt her…I don't know what else to do."

"He has so much of the spotlight on him right now, maybe…I know it seems unlikely that Gish will just go away quietly but maybe he just wants to cause some trouble and be done with it. The other fires claimed lives but he…I don't know okay? I'm just guessing."

"That's all we can do and I hate it too," Severide agrees with a small sigh. "I don't want to send my daughter away but I'll do anything to keep her safe."

"Gish is counting on that," Casey mutters in an undertone as he looks up in remorse. "The only saving grace right now is that he's under CPD surveillance."

"Yeah and they just let him waltz right into 51!" Severide lightly snaps.

"They had no cause to stop him. Boden's right. He didn't break the law. Yes he pissed us off but sadly…that's not illegal."

"It should be," Severide concludes sourly as Casey nods in agreement.

XXXXXXXX

"Okay…watch yourselves in here guys! It's dark and…"

"Found one!" Casey's voice is heard as they sweep the first floor of the two story industrial building. Unlike the rest of the places on the list of Gish-fires, this was a very busy sewing facility with too many eyes and ears to see anything he'd want to be doing to cause destruction and entertain himself. Now they were just contending with flammable materials and trapped employees.

"Capp take them out!"

"Copy that!"

"Severide, Herrmann and I are heading upstairs!" Casey tells as he gestures to Herrmann to head for the inner staircase.

"Fire department! Call out!"

"Anyone up here!"

"Call out if you…Casey I found one!"

"Otis! We need help!"

"On my way up!"

"Ah damn this stuff," Herrmann grumbles as Casey helps him pull away some of the flaming materials.

"Careful! It sticks to everything!"

"Chief, first floor is clear. Heading up to the second to help Casey!" Severide tells Boden.

"Copy that."

This time the fire is successfully put out and all from Firehouse 51 exit – unscathed. Herrmann still grumbles about the flammable materials, saying it gets in all the cracks and of course causing a cascading of lame jokes to follow. As soon as the return to the House, Severide notices his father waiting and gets out, walking up to him with a determined stride.

"What's going on?" Severide asks his father in haste. "Anything new on Gish?"

"Nothing. He gets up. Goes to work and then comes home. He's done that for the past few days. I'm sure he knows that while it might be a different unmarked car each day that CPD is his new shadow. So…he's either going to just tire of the game and go elsewhere or…"

"See if we give up first. Finally realizing that our resources are better used elsewhere," Severide groans as Benny nods in agreement.

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm…on edge," Severide admits as he looks over at Casey. "Matt's been helping and I try to keep focused on Aurora and work but every time I look at a picture of Shay I heard Gish laughing and I want to just go.."

"Punch him out?" Benny interjects as his hand rests on his son's shoulder. "We will get him."

"I hope it's soon. My patience is wearing thin."

"Mine too," Benny agrees as Casey and Boden near them. "Casey…hey Wallace."

"Benny," Boden greets him with a small nod. "Anything new on Gish?"

"Nothing. He's been quiet and we're all hoping he'll stay that way."

"Let's hope," Boden agrees as he and Benny pull away and head for Boden's office.

"I don't like it," Severide states as he watches his father and superior disappear into Boden's office. "I think he's just biding his time."

"He could be. Or maybe he really doesn't want to go to jail?" Casey retorts as he looks at Severide with a heavy frown.

"There is that," Severide is forced to agree.

But while the two of them come to that somewhat solid verbal agreement, silently they both know that Gish is still very dangerous and just waiting to strike.

And they'd be right.

XXXXXXXX

"Damn this day needs to end," Severide groans as the overhead paging system goes off one more time.

"Another traffic accident," Herrmann's voice adds to the collective sigh as Casey lends them both a sympathetic gaze.

"I think we should start charging for our traffic directing services," Mouch adds as all of them climb into their respective vehicles; one by one slowly rolling out of Firehouse 51 and into traffic.

"Any bets as to what kind of car it is this time?" Otis starts as all inside the confines of truck 81 laugh. Casey, however, remains a bit on edge and nervous, knowing that each call could be a surprise waiting to be sprung upon them.

"Alright let's…" Severide's voice starts as he approaches the empty car. "Damn it! Driver's missing!"

Casey turns around and hurries toward the nearest onlooker. "Ma'am, did you see anyone?"

"Yes. A middle aged man. Thin with thinning hair. He left the car and…" her voice is stopped short by another angry curse; all of 51 looking up as Severide backs away from the passenger side with a piece of paper in his grasp.

"Kelly? What's up?" Casey asks in wonder as he nears his friend; instantly noticing Severide's angry scowl.

"You're not going to believe this," Severide mutters as Boden approaches; all three of them looking down at the paper in Severide's grasp.

'Good work Lieutenant Severide. Rescuing an empty car. Tax payers dollars are well spent.'

"BASTARD!" Severide shouts as his gloved hands crumple the paper; his angry words instantly drawing a few curious glances. "Chief…"

"We don't know who left this note," Boden replies frankly.

"No plates or registration and VIN numbers been filed off," Capp mentions as Severide looks at his fellow squad member and then back at Boden with narrowed eyes.

"Gish! We know it's him!"

"Take that paper to CPD and get them to check for prints but all he's guilty of right now is wasting our time. Let's pack up and get back!" Boden tells them a few seconds after Cruz confirmed the tow truck was minutes away.

"He's not going to get away with this," Severide hisses.

At the same time, Gish watches from a distance with a delighted expression. The tow truck arrives a bit faster than expected and he's forced to offer a glum expression before he pulls away and slowly heads back to the bus stop and then to work. He had led his CPD tail on a wild goose chase and then lost them in the traffic mess; ducking out just before he could be seen. Now on foot, he would be nearly untraceable. Unless he wanted them to know where he was.

"And don't tell me to just let it go," Severide warns Casey as they get back to 51 and start to unload.

"I won't. Today was a low but it just proves that Gish isn't done," Casey utters in an undertone as he looks at Severide in concern.

"He just proved today's personal."

"We all get that but we don't know for sure it was him…I'm just offering both sides here."

"I know," Severide sighs as he looks at the note in the plastic baggie. "But now he's on foot and…"

"We'll all just be extra vigilant," Casey states with certainty.

"I'll drop this by CPD and then see you at home."

"Kelly…" Casey starts with a heavy sigh. "I'm coming with you."

"I'm capable of going on my own to see the police."

"Okay but you go near Gish and you could really screw this up. He has no car so you showing up at his work is on you."

"So I've heard," Severide sighs as he sheds his jacket and then heads for his car. "Dad asked me to come with him to finalize the apartment paperwork. Can you pick up Aurora?"

"Course," Casey agrees as he watches his friend take his leave and disappear from view. Casey calls Pauline and leaves a message and then looks at the clock. The day couldn't end fast enough.

XXXXXXXX

"We'll check it for prints but Gish is smart," Erin tells Severide with a small sigh. "This is ballsy."

"Damn bastard is just asking for it!" Severide hisses as he looks away and then back at her wondering glance. "Yes I want to go and lay him out right now but I'm going to see my father and then going home."

"I have your word?" Erin retorts; her request forcing Severide's brows to arch. "Come on Kelly, humor me, you know I have to ask."

"Straight home. Just nail this guy!"

"I will. Watch your back. I'm still holding you to that coffee."

Severide gives her a brief smile and nod and then pulls his phone as he heads for his car. He pauses just before he gets in, his mind racing that he should just go and see Gish – not physically rough him up but show that he can play the game also. If you mess up the police investigation in any way…his mind correctly warns him. His lips utter a low growl as he gets into his car and heads for the AI office; his father expecting his visit.

Severide stops his car and looks at his father's building before he gets out. He fails to see the danger waiting.

Gish strikes.

XXXXXXXX

The next hour drags on; Casey not helping himself by always looking at the clock to see what time it is in five minute increments.

"No one say anything to jinx the silence!" Mouch states; earning a few snickers in the process.

"Need someone to pull the fire alarm?"

Casey looks up to see Benny Severide approaching and frowns, his mind starting to race a bit faster. "Benny?"

"Kelly around?"

Oh no….Casey's mind offers in haste as Benny's brow furrows. "No," Casey replies slowly as he stands up. "I thought he was with you?"

"Didn't show…so I came…here," Benny answers in truth as Boden approaches. "Kelly around?"

"Oh no," Casey mutters as he pulls his phone and calls his friend. "No answer."

"Where did he…Matt…"

"Kelly went to take something to CPD to check," Boden interjects as Casey calls Erin.

"No, he left about an hour ago. What's going on Matt?"

"Not sure, I'll call you back," Casey hangs up and then dials Pauline; his heart and mind now both racing at top speed. He looks at Benny and Boden as an impending sense of doom starts to descend. "I can't get Pauline or Kelly…"

"Matt…"

"Gish…" he dares to utter, an instant hush blanketing all of firehouse 51. "Gish has Kelly."

XXXXXXXX

A slow smile spreads across his evil lips as he looks upon his helpless captive in glee. His senses revel in the deadly smell of gasoline and his mind races that this could be his best fire yet. He pulls a lighter from his pocket and glares in contempt as his captive finally starts to stir.

"Welcome back…Lieutenant Severide."

A/N: EEEKS! So obviously I wasn't going to write Dawson in trouble (sooooo lame!) and I already had Gish attack Casey in my eppy OS-Time's Up in this story – it is personal and Severide is in trouble – real trouble. How did Gish elude CPD? What's his next move? Will they get to Severide in time? Where is Aurora and how will this all play out? Had to get a few little broments in there, some Kelly and Erin and of course Benny (sorry lame AI chick lol) please do review before you go and thanks so much!