Thank you for all the reviews, kind comments, and follows! It means so much to know you are enjoying the story. I know it's hard to take, Erin and Kelly not together, some of you saying you can't take much more. Well, hang in for a bit longer. You know my stories…I'm all about the build up and the drama, but that's what makes the pay off so much sweeter.
When Clarke and Manny arrived bright and early, Shay took that as her cue to exit. She loved Clarke even though he was relatively new to 51. He was one of the good guys…even helping her through a desperately, dark period in her life. She was growing to feel the same about his best friend. She knew Kelly was in good hands.
"You boys cheer this one up," she said kissing Kelly on the cheek. "Or kick his ass."
They laughed with Kelly joining in, calm now, a good night's rest doing wonders. He'd already texted Erin to say he was sorry, could they talk, really talk with no yelling. No response yet. In truth, he wasn't completely sorry. He sensed that there was something more with Jay. He needed to hear it from Erin. Or have her deny it.
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Shay had her own plans...she was heading to the detective's apartment unbeknownst to the men in the hospital room.
She took a deep breath as she parked her car, thinking out exactly what she'd say. She wasn't going to be ugly, no tirade coming. She needed her own honest conversation with the brunette that Kelly obviously loved. If Erin was ultimately going to break Kelly's heart, Shay was putting an end to it now.
Making her way to Erin's door, she inhaled one more deep breath for courage. Jesus, the things I'll do for my best friend, she thought not looking forward to the "talk." He'd do the same for me.
She knocked two times. No answer. Give her a minute, she thought nervously, balling up her sweaty hands at her side. Two more knocks, louder this time.
She thought she heard a voice calling out. Finally, door being unlocked. Another deep breath. Relax your hands, look like you're gettin' in a damn fight, she thought.
All the air came rushing out of her lungs as she faced Jay Halstead, bare chested, wearing a pair of worn, gray sweats only, hanging loosely from his hips. Jay's eyes opened a little wider, but couldn't match the blue ones staring at him.
The air had been knocked out of Shay. This was the last thing she'd expected when she decided to drive over there.
Erin came rushing from the back, hair in a towel, wearing a T-shirt and panties. Nothing else.
The two women stood staring at each other. Shay turned around and quietly, slowly walked away trying to wrap her brain around the scene that had just unfolded before her eyes.
"Shit!" said Erin scrambling to throw on sweats and chase after the blonde. "Shit, shit, shit!" Erin fell to the ground as a foot got caught missing the opening. She raced out the door and easily reached Shay.
"Shay! Wait!"
Leslie turned around with disgust in her eyes.
"What? What could you possibly have to say?"
Erin didn't utter a word. She watched as Shay got in her car and sped off. So it was done. Officially over. Kelly and her no more? All they'd been through and this was how it ends?
Just over a month ago I was begging God to let him live. He looked half dead and so broken. I would've done anything. The bargains I made that day.
How much things could change in four weeks. Not for the better.
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Shay was met by an empty room. Kelly was downstairs in a rehab session, able to leave his room now for more challenging PT. Clarke stayed to cheer him on...they were both dripping wet when they made it back up. Manny had to get home, the baby running a slight fever.
"Hey, beautiful," said Clarke kissing her on the cheek. He immediately sensed her tension. "Walk me out?" he said quietly.
"Hey, good job today, man. You're gonna be back kicking my ass in no time." He patted Kelly on the back then gave him a quick, fake punch in the arm.
"What?" he asked Leslie when they reached the elevator.
Shay revealed all, not leaving out any of the details...Jay with no shirt, even adding the color of Erin's panties.
"No fucking way." Clarke shook his head in utter disbelief. "He is just turning it around." He continued shaking his head.
"What're we going to do?" asked Shay tearily.
"Not a damn thing. Let whatever happens, happen. He is not going to hear any of this from us."
It was decided.
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Kelly didn't get a return text from Erin that day. He didn't hear from her at all. Focusing all his energies on his rehab took the sting of the rejection away a little. He couldn't believe that their screaming match WAS the break up…no talking it out, no return visit to officially end it. Just over.
His progress was steady with the words of Dr. Montgomery being realized. The leg did bounce back...it looked like Kelly had a matching pair now. The injured one returning to the point where he could walk with just a slight limp.
The pain was another story. He expected it to go away, but it just kept coming back...an old acquaintance not wanting to leave. Kelly tried to stay off the prescription drugs but the burning from his hip all the way down his leg wouldn't let him. The days he tried to eat the pain away with ibuprofen or Tylenol were the days he could barely do his therapy. If he took the stronger stuff, he could push it to the limit. Monty assured him that he didn't need to fear the meds...they were an important part of his rehab.
"I'll cut you off when it's time," he said again, happy with Kelly's progress.
Monty sent him home with a few more months of rehab on the to-do list. The apartment overflowing with excited family celebrating their friend's return was a day Severide would not soon forget.
"It's about damn time," said Casey slapping him on the back.
Dawson threw her arms around him so tightly he wasn't sure she was ever lettin' go. Boden didn't say much all night, the emotion getting the better of him. Katie, Benny, all the guys from 51 made an appearance. Manny and his family getting to meet everyone for the first time. Looking around the apartment, Kelly thought these are the people I love, my family. Everyone I care about is in this room. He felt a tug at his heart knowing that was a lie. There was one person missing. She'd been gone for a while and Kelly wondered if he'd ever get used to it.
The return to 51 brought similar fanfare...everyone overjoyed and relieved to have their lieutenant back. He was on light duty indefinitely. The "indefinitely" pissed him off, but he knew he'd already come a hell of a long way. I'll get there. Gonna take more time, but I'll get there.
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"Molly's tonight?" asked Casey hopefully, those bright eyes with a pleading puppy dog look in them.
Kelly laughed at his friend. "Yeah, not for long though." He couldn't drink with the meds he was taking, so it kinda took the fun out of the bar. He knew the guys wanted him to go. Hell, what else do I have to do?
He hadn't seen Erin in months, hadn't talked to her, hadn't even gotten a text. Yeah, watching his friends drink a couple of beers would do him some good, he thought.
"Do you want to ride with Casey or me? Did you bring enough of everything for your next dose or should we go home first? Remember, you can't drink any alcohol." Shay fumbled around nervously trying to dig her keys out of her purse.
"Jesus, Shay do you wanna just take me in the ambo in case you need it? Were goin' to Molly's so I can watch you drink. No big deal."
She hooked her arm in his tightly. I guess I'm ridin' with her, he thought.
It was a big deal. "You haven't been out in months. I feel like we're going to prom," she laughed with him joining in.
"Casey! Help!" Kelly called as he was half forced into Shay's car.
Molly's was pretty much the same, in that familiar way that made you feel like it was an old friend welcoming you back...the same regulars, Hermann busting everyone's balls, Otis taking his job too seriously, and Dawson doing more socializing than serving. The only thing different was having to watch everyone else drink.
This is good…just what I needed. Being part of the mix, treated like he'd always been treated, not with kid gloves for the first time in months…like he wasn't a damn invalid.
"Thanks for makin' me come," he told Shay and Casey.
"Like I can ever make you do anything?" Casey knew Kelly needed this, feel like the same old part of the team.
Shay snorted but her eyes were drawn to the front of Molly's.
No, no, no, no. This is not happening. There is no way…
Walking through the front door was Erin Lindsay.
Antonio Dawson, Adam Ruzek, Kim Burgess…and Jay Halstead filing in behind her.
"Can we make this a 'no cops' zone? Can we just institute Molly's as a CPD free zone?" Shay was talking to no one and everyone at the table. She knew it would be futile to try to distract Kelly, to prevent him from seeing who just strolled in. No, better to get it out there. And for them to get the hell outta there.
"Let's go," said Casey before Shay could say the words. He got up throwing some money on the table.
Dawson already made her way to Jay.
"What the hell? You show up here to rub his nose in it? Why would you do this? You are unbelievable."
"Nice to see you too, Gabby. And your brother is the one who insisted we come here tonight." Jay headed to the bar to grab a beer and drink this disaster away. He'd seen Severide the second he walked through the door. It was what he had feared. You don't hit a man when he's down…part of some bro code built into his DNA.
"Gabby. I had no idea. I've been here how many times, and Kelly hasn't been here once. You said he can't drink. You told me that." Antonio had his hands up readying himself for a slap, a punch, something.
"Well, he's here, so you need to go. Why would you think any of us would want to see her in here? Ever."
"So this place ain't big enough for both of us? C'mon, we'll stay over on this side. We just busted a loser we've been after for three months. It's unrealistic to think they'll never run into each other. C'mon, Gabby." Antonio pleaded.
Erin positioned herself behind Ruzek and Burgess ready to back herself out of Molly's. She didn't see Kelly at first until Dawson zeroed in on her brother. She knew that fury could only be brought on by one thing…Kelly had to be there.
The first thought Severide had at seeing the beautiful detective…God, I've missed that face, that hair, that voice…that woman.
"Sit your ass down. We're not goin' anywhere." Kelly got up to talk to Erin and hopefully prevent a death…Antonio's.
"Dawson. Everything's fine. Let your brother get a damn beer. Antonio," Kelly held out his hand.
"Kelly, you look good, man. Glad you're back." Antonio shook his hand and gave him a quick pat on the back heading for a newly empty table.
Burgess had her arms folded in front of her with a "try to get past me, asshole" look on her face.
"Kim, Adam. Uh, make yourself at home," joked Kelly trying to get a good look at his ex girlfriend.
"You look great," said Burgess, huge dorky smile spreading across her face, arms dropped to her side now. She awkwardly slugged Kelly in the arm, not knowing what to do.
"We're gonna go sit with Antonio. Uh, if that's okay. And, uh, yeah, you look good." Ruzek grabbed Burgess' arm and led her around Severide to a nearby table where Antonio was sucking down a beer as if his life depended upon it. He could feel daggers, actually Gabby's eyes still on him.
Erin was literally abandoned. Standing in front of the man she loved, alone. Loved? Love?
God, she missed him. Seeing him…her only thought was to run into his arms, hug him, kiss him. Just hold him. Tears welling in her eyes, threatening with everything they had to run down her cheeks. She couldn't speak. She could barely breathe.
Kelly took a step closer. The look on her face so hard to read. He took another step…the only thing he wanted in the world at that moment was to have her in his arms. To grab her and bring her in to his chest. To feel her face on his, her hair in his fingertips…God, how long? He needed to feel her soft touch on his face, tell him everything would be alright, he would be alright, they would be alright.
Kelly took one more step closer, just inches separating the two.
"What did I miss?" asked Jay Halstead draping an arm around Erin, bottle of beer hanging from his hand, smile on his face. Bro code gone.
Oh boy, Jay. What are you up to? How will Erin react? You know I'm Team Linseride…that kiss on CPD, those dimples, that look in their eyes. Like Halstead, but love Severide. What do you think?