Sorry the wait was a long one - having vacation fun! But hours in airports and on planes has left me with this monster update. Sit down and stay a while...enjoy!
As usual, my outline has been sidetracked. I'm really worried that Lauren German is not coming back, so I had to get in some major Shayveride with the story meandering back to my original Linseride vision at the end. Hope you like.
Shay was gettin' a little quality Kelly time and it was about damn time. Clarke had turned out to be the worst roommate ever...spending more hours at that detective's place than at hers, theirs. Caitlyn or whatever the hell her name was had ripped him away before he was ever a full fledged roomie. Shay felt like she was just getting used to Erin, accepting her as Kelly's girlfriend and now this new one taking over Jeff. She had to admit, he looked happy and Clarke didn't do happy...part of his charm. What the hell was it with firemen and their detectives? Ugh.
Enough negativity, she thought putting her hair in a quick ponytail. Mouch is right, I'm gonna end up a lonely old lady with twelve cats. She laughed at her reflection thinking I gotta get myself a good girl. Hmmm, maybe a nice detective... wonder if Erin knows anyone?
"Knock, knock," called Kelly letting himself into his former place... it would always feel like his home. "Shay, you decent?" he teased peeking his head around the corner.
"Yeah, sorry to disappoint but I'm fully dressed," she answered from upstairs. "Well, hello handsome," Shay said dramatically as she walked down the stairs.
Kelly laughed putting an arm around her, kissing her firmly on the forehead. "Missed you."
"Missed you." She looked him over carefully. "You look good."
"You look good," he mimicked figurin' she was fishing for a compliment.
"No, I mean you look healthy, good, put on a few pounds."
"So I came over here so you could call me fat? If I wanted this abuse I coulda stayed at my place and let Erin..."
"Shut up and take off your jacket." Shay took his jacket off herself throwing it on a dining room chair. "Let me see what's going on under there," she said pulling at his shirt.
"I shoulda stayed home, got naked at my own place." Kelly complied pulling his shirt over his head. Arguing with this woman was pointless. Come to think of it, arguing with any woman in my life is pointless, he thought chuckling.
"Severide, shut it." Shay looked at his back, squinting a little making sure all the shrapnel injuries were on the mend. "Looks good."
"My ass?" asked Kelly innocently, eyebrows raised.
Shay gave it a good swat.
"Owww!"
"Let me look at this one and then we can go."
"Can I stop you?" he muttered.
Shay gently took off the bandage on the deepest of his cuts on his lower back. "Looks good."
"You already said that. Can we go now, Florence Nightingale?"
"Uh, huh. Molly's?"
"Not tonight. Dinner then a new place I heard about." The look in Kelly's eyes said his devilish streak was comin' out and she couldn't wait. The carefree grin indicated fun was on the prowl tonight.
The pair strode into Joe's, all eyes on the couple, arm in arm. Not because they were beautiful, although that was undeniable, but because this was Erin and Kelly's place, not Kelly and some unidentified blonde's.
Jeanine, a waitress who obviously drew the short straw approached them, daggers in her eyes. She flipped her pad to a new page angrily if a flip of paper could denote anger.
"What do you want to drink?" she asked abruptly.
Shay looked at her best friend quizzically. This was the place he was raving about?
Jeanine took off before the blonde could even ask for a straw.
"Service sucks," said Shay loudly after the waitress hoping she could hear.
Kelly laughed shaking his head. He waved their waitress back over. "Jeanine, meet Shay. My best friend. Erin knows we're here tonight. I have her blessing. Now shake hands and go tell everyone."
Jeanine's normally bright smile appeared. "Kelly, I knew you weren't steppin' out on our girl. Shay, nice to meet you." She extended a hand which Leslie took awkwardly.
The meatloaf was wholeheartedly approved of by Shay. The gay bar Kelly found for their next stop was also given the Shay seal of approval. They strayed from talk of the explosion, Newhouse, and Otis. "No heavy stuff tonight," Shay insisted, chatting about her Devon break up like it was yesterday's news.
"Wait, she's gone? And you're just now mentionin' it? Hell, I would've taken you out before tonight," laughed Kelly hoping the she-devil didn't fork Shay's heart too deeply.
"You've been busy getting caught in a meth lab pretending to be a building, stuff like that," she waved him off like there was nothing to tell.
"What'd she do? Did she steal Clarke's stuff and he went full jarhead mode on her ass? Oh, right, he ain't got any stuff. So what happened?"
"Seriously, nothing. I just gave her a place to stay while she got her shit together. She got it together and she got out."
"So you're okay with it?" Kelly vowed he wasn't lettin' Devon hurt his girl again.
"I am. I'm not in love with her. To be honest, I discovered I don't even really like her."
"Amen! Amen to that!" Kelly jumped up in the booth a little not believing his ears. "Did you want to say anything else? Anything about me being right for the first time in a long time?"
"A long time? Try ever!" Shay laughed thinking about her best friend in front of her. What an unlikely duo they were. Who the hell would've guessed? The playboy and the lesbian together forever. Sounded like some bad porno, she thought snorting again.
When she first met Kelly, she wasn't looking for a friend, definitely not one like him. He couldn't keep it in his pants long enough to catch a last name. She remembered thinking how disgusting he was. Until she found out he wasn't. They'd made that deal. Don't get in each other's shit, mind your own business. He was the first one that violated their little arrangement, picking her up at a seedy little bar on the south-side. She was hammered and couldn't find her keys. She'd called Kelly to see if he'd seen them anywhere.
"Where are you?"
"You don't have them? I'll find 'em," she slurred.
"No, DO NOT hang up. Where are you?" he instructed, worried she was gonna click end.
"I'll find 'em. Bye Kelly."
"No! Give the phone to the nice lady making your drinks! Now!"
"Kelly wants to talk to you," Shay said handing the phone abruptly to the bartender, still rummaging through her purse.
Kelly read her the riot act talkin' about getting their liquor license revoked if she let the blonde step one foot outside the bar. He was there in ten, leading his roommate to his waiting car, trying not to laugh that her keys were firmly gripped in her left hand.
He took care of her that night, tucking her in her bed, stroking her head when she started crying about how lonely she was. He had ibuprofen and a special hangover concoction waiting for her when she finally opened her eyes around noon. She swore the bed was spinning and it helped if he sat on the side. He did.
That was it. She thanked him for canceling his "date" with the hot red head he met at the marina to pick her drunk ass up. For being such a "good friend." That's when they began their journey into best friend land. That's when the conversations about anything and everything started takin' place. That's when they realized they were in it together. They needed exactly what the other offered and no one else could give.
Shay could read Kelly like no other. Better than Casey, better than Darden ever could. And now she could tell there was something else on his mind.
"Okay, Kel, what's up? Something's been eating at you."
He thought about denying, not messing with their evening of fun. Why do I even try, he thought. She reads my bullshit like yesterday's mail.
"You know the day of the meth lab thing?" he started slowly, not sure how to approach it.
"Yeah, I remember. It was an explosion. I was there, Kelly. What?" Shay was growing impatient with the not just comin' out and saying it. What was the deal? This wasn't her guy's style.
"When we were at Lakeshore, Erin sort of..."
Shay was hanging on every word. Her eyebrows lifted, arching even more than normal. Wait for it, wait for it, she told herself.
"She kind of asked me to marry her."
"Shut the front door!" Shay's mouth fell open, not believing what she just heard. Erin wasn't the marrying kind, more like a runaway bride. There was no way in hell.
Kelly ran through the time in the triage bay, the words of Erin.
"So did she say, 'Kelly, will you marry me?' Or did she say she wanted to get married? This is very important, Kelly. Concentrate."
Shit, I feel like I'm takin' the lieutenant's test again, he thought rubbing his hand through his hair.
"I think she said she wanted to get married... or... she wanted a marriage. Somethin' like that."
"That is definitely NOT a marriage proposal. That's saying she's open to getting married."
Shay watched as Kelly's shoulders slumped down, that sad face he did so well, spreading across his face.
"Wait! It could mean that she's waiting for you to propose! She's open to marriage and she wants you to ask!"
Kelly perked up considerably, shoulders back in their confident place.
"We've got some planning to do! Let's get to this place you found for me and get your proposal worked out. I can maybe find a girl for me while we're there. You know I can multitask."
Kelly laughed so hard, he could barely pay the bill.
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Erin was undercover, deep, deep undercover. She'd lied to Kelly about it. Justifiable lying she called it in her brain, like homicide only different. She wanted to save him the sleepless night, the unnecessary worry, so it was lying through love.
"You are so full of shit," said Jay shaking his head. "You are going to be in trouble, " he teased, trying to break the tension of heading off to a dangerous op.
"I do not get in trouble. We're in something called a grown up relationship. You should look it up. We discuss things. We do not get in trouble." Erin said petulantly.
"You are so full of shit," Jay repeated laughing even harder now.
"I have a twelve-year-old as a partner." Erin looked at him with disgust, only making him lose it further.
"I might have to pull over," he gasped pretending to lose control of the wheel, flailing his arms in a mock seizure.
"Just shut it and drive!"
They reached their meet point, a high end hotel, with Voight in his usual chipper mood.
"What the hell took so long? Playing grab ass or what?" He snapped, moving from behind a prissy, expensive desk, pad in hand.
"Jesus, Hank, really?"
"Our Russian black widow isn't someone to take lightly. She'll bite you in the ass before you can grab hers."
"This isn't my first time." Erin stated flatly, not backin' down, ever.
"We all know that," commented Jay with Erin giving him a death stare.
"Are we done with the pissin' contest? Can we get to it?" Olinsky didn't say much, but when he did, everyone listened, including Voight.
"Let's run through it again," Hank instructed, old school in preparation. His motto, you couldn't be too ready, too prepared.
The group ran through the set up. They were meeting Oksana Mikhailov, their Russian bad girl who had her hand in seemingly every illegal venture in Chicago. It started as an illegal arms investigation, turning to drugs, and now she may have dabbled in the sex trade.
"She ain't your daddy's little girl," warned Voight sternly, trying to get his point across.
"I'm not either," said Erin smiling sweetly at her mentor. "I'm ready. Let's do it."
The meet was simple, as far as undercover assignments went. She was going in as a local girl gone bad. Had connections with some powerful drug dealers, ready to leverage those contacts to help the Russian... for a hefty price. Jay was her bodyguard. Was that even undercover, thought Erin looking at her partner feeling a confidence at having him by her side.
The minute Erin and Halstead stepped into Oksana's luxury suite, she set her sites on the handsome detective.
"Miss Anderson, introduce me to your friend," she purred seductively reaching a hand in Jay's direction.
"He's the hired help. I thought we were here to deal." Erin answered gruffly, hoping to get to the business. And get out.
Jay took Oksana's hand kissing it lightly.
"Someone is very possessive," scolded the woman with the heavy accent. "Drinks first." Oksana strode to the mini bar with the confidence of a woman who knew how beautiful she was, had probably been told her whole life.
"Maker's Mark neat?" she asked, pouring before they responded. She handed one to Jay first, then Erin. "To a new and beautiful relationship," she said looking directly at Halstead.
They discussed Erin's contacts, their next meet set up with a high level supplier in the city, Jankowski...Alvin would play that one. He'd get the Russian with her hand in the cookie jar and arrest her. The sense of survival in this one was strong. Voight figured she'd give up just about anyone to save her own ass. Who knows how high this could go? IU needed this one. Voight needed this one.
Erin and Jay made their goodbyes with Oksana handing Halstead a note with her number on it and a personal message instructing him to come back tomorrow night alone. She made it clear that there would be no deal without some Jay love.
"Do you believe her?" asked Erin as the two entered the team's room.
"Hot, right?" joked Halstead only half teasing.
"If you like that type," countered Erin looking disgusted. "What're we going to do?" Erin asked Hank, amusement written all over his face.
"He's not goin'. She'll do the deal anyways. We'll send Ruzek in as your bodyguard next time."
The young detective let out a little whoop, excited at getting the shot at some action so to speak. "What do I do if she offers me somethin' extra?" he asked expectantly, pumping his fist once.
"She won't." Erin replied coldly.
"W- wait. What?" he asked confused, dropping the fist by his side.
"Alvin, you'll show her the good stuff in your trunk, she'll give you the cash and the cavalry will swoop in. Piece of cake."
"Why do you have to say that?" asked Erin. "You wanna jinx us?"
"That's bullshit," he rasped out. "Piece of cake," he repeated looking at her defiantly smiling.
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Shay and Kelly planned out the big event before they even left Joe's, deciding on the little diner as the spot where it would take place. They enlisted the help of the owner, the band of waitresses...everyone all in. The way they were buzzing around, you'd think the thing was goin' down tomorrow. Kelly was getting back to 51 in a couple of days for his first no restrictions shift. He figured the next shift off the two would share was in five days, Shay reminding him they'd probably want several days off after the proposal to "celebrate" ... she'd said with a wink.
The owner suggested they shut down for the night, the waitresses and Shay imagining a diner full of soft lighting, candles.
"You sure about all that? Erin's not really fancy, she's more like you," said Kelly doubting all the frou-frou stuff they were planning.
"She's gay?" asked Shay, holding Kelly's hand, dropping to one knee. "Every girl wants all this, Kelly. Every girl, even me. You on a knee, ring in hand, tears in eyes, asking her to marry you. Every girl." She said it as a matter of fact. When did she ever steer me wrong?
Kelly pulled into the parking lot of the Shay surprise for the evening, just for his best friend... a new gay bar, supposedly straight friendly, called Big Chicks. Yeah, he'd raised some eyebrows lookIn' for that place, the rumor mill working overtime on that one.
Shay doubled over with laughter letting herself flop onto his lap from the passenger side seeing the name of the place. "Oh my God, Kel, this is hilarious. And you're goin' in this place with me?"
"Hell yeah. You're helpin' me with the biggest thing I've ever done."
Shay laughed even harder seeing the nervous look on her fireman's face. "You better not wuss out on this," Shay said. "Time to grow a pair and do this."
"Don't worry about me. Don't need to grow a pair. The ones I got have done me well," he said smiling and hooking his arm around her shoulder.
Shay got a grip of her hysterics telling herself not to glance at the sign or another fit of laughing was comin'. Head down, she made it inside. Surprisingly Big Chicks was nice on the inside, guys and girls of all shapes and sizes positioned around the sprawling bar, tables throughout. Shay spied a table adjacent to a pool table and headed over stationing the two at the spot for the night. Kelly headed to the bar to grab two beers, immediately hit on by a good looking twenty something.
"I'm straight, but, uh, thanks?" Kelly replied awkwardly rushing to Shay with a save me look on his face.
"Sure you are," called the young man in Severide's direction, thinking no one that hot was straight.
"Are you going to be okay in here?" taunted Shay. "I feel like I've just brought Bambi to a hunting convention." Kelly was glad to see his friend having fun already. Even if it was at his expense.
Shay danced with a couple of promising prospects, leaving Kelly to fend for himself. The term fresh meat came to mind. He decided being a moving target was better than a sittin' duck. He headed to the bar again to grab a couple more beers.
"If you put that ring you're wearing on your right hand on your left hand, they'll leave you alone," the bartender suggested feeling for the guy who was obviously a fish outta water in here.
"Uh, thanks," Kelly answered swiftly doing as she said.
"So here with your gay friend?" she asked motioning her head toward Shay who was busting some kind of move on the dance floor.
Kelly laughed at the jerking motions coming from the blonde, rhythm definitely not one of her strengths. "Yeah," he said chuckling, shaking his head. "But she's havin' fun, right?"
"It looks like it." The bartender wiped her hands on a towel. "I'm Cassidy," she said extending a hand smiling warmly at the fireman.
"I'm Kelly." he reached out his hand ready to add something about having a girlfriend, working the words out in his brain.
"She seems like a sweetheart, been kinda watching her all night."
"Great!" said Kelly. "I mean that's good. I can introduce you or something." He fumbled around for the right words, thankful that this girl wasn't hittin' on him.
"You two are so cute together." Cassidy giggled at how uncomfortable this guy was and how deliciously awkward his friend was. "Let me get Ray to cover me, and I'll join you at your table for my break."
Ray was a large, leather clad man who was part owner of the joint. He spied Kelly's "wedding" band and let out a disappointed sigh, letting his girl take a well deserved time out.
Shay rushed back to Kelly saying something about not being sure if that "chick's smell was body odor or bad breath. Ugh!"
Nice, thought Kelly. He gave her a look to shut up, motioning at Cassidy, his new table guest. Shay's eyes turned like Jeanine's when they first walked into Joe's.
"Shay, this is Cassidy," he said. Yes, my best friend is clueless. "She wanted to meet you," he was forced to say directly because realization was not setting in those blue eyes. "I'm gonna take a piss. Be right back."
Kelly stood in a darkened corner of the bar, pulling out his phone. He called Erin, wanting to hear her voice. No answer. He tried texting.
At that bar with Shay.
Nothing.
You okay?
Nothing.
She said it was going to be a long stakeout, boring, lots of downtime. Must've turned into somethin' more he imagined. Hopefully, nothing involving guns. He pushed his phone into his pocket trying to push down the worry. Taking his time in the bathroom, Kelly washed his hands twice, running water over his face.
He checked his phone before heading back to the table. Still nothing. Sure it is nothing, he told himself. He stopped to watch the two women at his table, Shay laughing, Cassidy obviously enjoying herself. The new girl had an easy smile, pretty face, but that long, red hair was the stand out, that'd be the thing that would get Shay to call this one.
He walked over slowly, back starting to nag at him. He hadn't really been out and about since the explosion, trips to visit Otis, take food to the Newhouse home...that was about it. Katie had come by whenever he could pry her from Lakeshore and the bedside of Brian.
He couldn't believe how well the young fireman was taking the news that he'd never fight a fire again, never get to be on a full shift, was leavin' 51. He truly was thankful to be alive, with an attitude that was like a foreign tongue to Severide. Kelly knew what a petulant bitch he'd be if hit with the same news.
Otis was talkin' about IT positions he'd turned down, maybe staying with the CFD. He was unreal. Having Katie by his side didn't hurt. They were even discussing future plans, living in the same city. Kelly wasn't sure how he felt about that, Katie was so damn young. But he knew that if her heart wanted Otis there wasn't a thing he could do about it. And the guy definitely loved his sis.
There was none of that happiness at the Newhouse homestead. Mom was understandably devastated with the loss of her golden child. Kelly stayed for over an hour letting the older woman take him through photo albums...he felt like he was getting to know his new squad member for the first time. He knew they would've been close if the guy had survived. Single worst part of the job...death. He made a vow to keep in touch with them.
"I'm a lame ass," said Kelly walking to the table, both hands held open. "I'm draggin' ass, tired. Gonna call it a night." He walked behind the blonde giving her a kiss on the top of the head.
"Okay, that's okay," Shay shuffled around, grabbing her purse she'd hooked on her chair, tucking a stray hair behind her ear.
"No, you stay." Kelly looked at Cassidy hoping what he thought would happen would in fact happen.
"Uh, you're my ride, lame ass." Shay laughed looking at her new friend, a look that said she didn't want to leave.
"I get off at two, can give you a ride then. If you're interested?" Cassidy offered.
Shay shook her head yes with the little girl enthusiasm Severide loved. Kelly kissed her once more.
"Thanks. Again. For everything."
"Thank you, Kelly. You're the best," Shay said looking at the girl her best friend found for her.
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The pressure in the Intelligence Unit was reaching the boiling point. Voight was feeling it from the weasel Stillwell, the IA pit bull grabbing a hold of the jugular and not letting up.
"I need results. Yesterday!" he screamed at the sergeant.
Voight didn't answer, just turned on his heels and headed to his team. It trickles down hill so to speak.
"We need to put the screws to our Ruskie. Everything else is dead until we get this one done." Hank strode to his office, Olinsky in tow. The slamming of the door left no mistake about how serious he was.
"Let's see if I can rush our timetable a little," said Erin with a mischievous smile forming, looking at her partner. "I'll offer her a meet up tonight with a little extra thrown in."
"Why do I think it's my ass you're thinkin' of as extra?" Jay asked warily. Ruzek was already forming an argument, not wanting to take a back seat again.
Erin just gave him the hand indicating he better shut up, she was calling Oksana.
"Oksana, your little friend is back in town." Erin looked at Jay, eyebrows raised, teasing him mercilessly.
"Yes, He took care of everything and is back. Can we push the meet up for tonight? Great." Erin hung up turning to the two men staring at her.
"Let's get Voight. The meet's on. Apparently, she can't wait to see you." Erin poked Jay in the chest as she walked by to retrieve Hank.
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Kelly took the day off to get everything ready for the big night, tomorrow night. Shay joined him, mainly just to calm him down. She felt like a mom sending her son off to kindergarten, resisting the urge to pat him on the head all day.
"This might be the biggest mistake of my life," he said doubting all he was doing. "I honestly don't know if she's even gonna say yes, Shay." The worry was set in his eyes, all his past relationships filing through his brain.
"She's saying yes, so man up and help me with these candles," demanded Shay trying to shove a taper candle into a holder.
"I think these candles violate some man code." Kelly protested still thinking it was a little overkill.
"Just shut up and shove them in."
"I can handle that one."
"You did not just say that."
"Ssshhh. I'm concentrating. I'm trying to shove 'em in."
The rest of the day was spent bullshitting, trying to get Kelly to act more like Kelly. Shay surveyed the stuff they had hidden away in the back at Joe's like she was taking inventory in the ambo.
"I'll come early, set up, you get her here by seven." She thought about leaving a detailed list but thought he'd be ticked off.
"Got it."
Shay wanted to hide out in the back and watch, but she was putting herself on restriction. Jeanine had promised to film the whole thing.
"The ring?"
"In my T-shirt drawer. Don't worry, I won't forget it." The ring had posed a bigger challenge than Kelly had imagined. He thought, go into a jewelry store, pick out a huge diamond, done. Not so easy. The huge diamonds didn't look right, they didn't look like Erin. And all the cuts... princess, pear, emerald, round, heart. His head was spinnin' after ten minutes in the ritzy shop.
Who'd come through? The most unlikely of men, of dad's...Benny.
Benny's sister, Kelly's Aunt Norene, had passed six years ago, leaving Benny with a box of stuff, "junk" their mom had left her years earlier. Benny had haphazardly breezed through the box once.
"I think I saw mom's wedding band in there. Maybe. Don't quote me on it."
Grandma's wedding band shoved in a cardboard box. Nice.
Benny pulled out pictures, knick knacks... "I knew it! Here it is!" He held up the ring like Mufasa holding up Simba.
The second Kelly saw it, he knew it was the one. Perfect. The antique ring had a round cut diamond in its center, small diamonds surrounding it...set in platinum, etched with intricate little designs that spoke of a romantic time gone by. All the other rings he'd looked at had the big diamond up front, set up and out from the band like a peacock saying look at me. Kelly couldn't imagine Erin wearing one of those.
Kelly could picture Erin wearing this ring, his family heirloom he didn't even know he had... his Grandma Ginny had worn this ring for over fifty years. There was something right about it.
"Pops, you really came through for me on this one. Thanks, Dad."
Kelly didn't say "dad" much at all...it was always "pops" or Benny. This day the elder Severide earned that name, at least for one night.
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The Oksana bust was a bust. She didn't show ... Voight more than pissed.
"So she's gonna leave us with our dicks in our hands?" he screamed at everyone and no one at the same time.
"My hands are empty," said Erin trying to get him to calm down. "Hank, it was a rush job. We'll reset the meet and do it right." She was heading out for her three days off. They all needed some time, come back rejuvenated, and bust the Russian.
Kelly was home already, takeout Chinese purchased, beers in the fridge.
"You got off early?" she asked kissing him full on the lips, ready to enjoy him for the next few days, every part of him.
"You could say that," he answered kissing her quickly, turning back to the mail he was shuffling through. He was afraid to look at Erin... one look could tell her that he hadn't gone in, that he was planning something big.
"Hey, what's up?" Erin asked grabbing the mail out if his hand... "Did something happen?"
She's got my number, he thought. Shay first, now her.
"No, slow day. Goin' to bed early, tired." Severide fake yawned even adding a stretched out arm, wanting to get the hell out of there. He knew a few more minutes and he'd be on a knee not waiting for the production planned at Joe's.
"Kelly, it's 7:30. Talk to me. Are you okay?" Erin pulled him in to her body running her hands over his arms, his back. It was a sexy move...her hands slowly making their way down and up the length of his body. Kelly knew the move well. He felt it every time Erin thought he was concealing an injury...tweaked shoulder, bruise, scrape. He knew the Erin scan was comin' and he didn't mind it...he'd protest, tell her he was fine, but he grew to need it. Showed how much she loved him, and he'd never felt that before.
"See, I'm good. Just beat, helluva day." He kissed her on the forehead and headed to...bed? "Oh, and don't make any plans for tomorrow. Joe's sound alright?" he added hoping it sounded casual enough. He hurried to the bathroom wanting to look at his woman but not wanting to look at his woman.
"Sounds, uh, great. You sure you're okay, Severide? Because I don't think you've gone to bed this early since you were ten."
"You could join me," Kelly suggested, that devilish grin appearing. That'd keep him busy, no chance of blowing it. My mouth'll be shut, he thought, smile growing bigger. Well, maybe not shut, but no words coming out. He chuckled at his own joke, leaving Erin more confused.
"Something's goin' on in there," Erin laughed knocking Kelly's head twice like it was the front door. "I'll get it out of you, one way or another." The brunette slipped off her black T-shirt and was unhooking her bra before Kelly had taken another step inside the bathroom. Erin slipped around him dropping her jeans to the floor, turning on the shower...one hand on her hip, the other snapping her fingers saying hurry up.
"You had a shitty day," Kelly said realizing for the first time she had that look. The one that said things hadn't gone as planned. She hadn't wanted to talk about his day. She wanted to talk about hers. "But I'm gonna make it better. Right now." He grabbed the shampoo and went to work.
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The next morning Erin woke up to bagels on the counter and a note.
Went to the gym. Back soon. Don't forget Joe's tonight.
Love, K
She rubbed her bleary eyes, her sleep filled brain not understanding he was already gone, hadn't stayed in bed...took off?
She was stuffing a bagel in her mouth when Voight summoned her, his usual command. Just once I'd love a 'do you think you can come in for a few minutes?' Nope, always 'get your ass in here.' She took off for the planning session sure it wouldn't last more than a couple of hours.
Kelly came home to a note on the counter and an empty bag.
Meeting with Voight. Back soon. I won't forget Joe's.
Love, E
He looked in the bag twice not quite believing she ate 'em all. First stop, some food, keep moving, busy. What was it his Grandma said, something about a busy bee, or watched pot boiling, or some crap like that.
Kelly was waiting for his girl when the text came in at 6:30 saying Erin would meet him at Joe's...CPD emergency. Waiting, always waiting for her. No one had ever kept him waiting time and again. He would've been out that door the first time. Not with this one. She's worth it. Kelly conveniently forgot all the times she was up worried about him... he'd stagger in bone tired from a last minute call, no chance of saying, "Gotta go. Shift's over."
He arrived at the diner alone, met with confused, disappointed looks.
"You can put that camera away and come out from the back, Jeanine. She ain't here yet," called Kelly looking at the place in wonder. When Shay was right, she was damn right.
"She's comin'. Had to go to PD, but she's comin'."
At 7:30 they decided to blow out the candles... the wax dripping down on the tables like Kelly's hopes for the evening. He fumbled lamely with the ring in his pocket.
"We'll start them right back up when she gets here, sweetie," reassured Jeanine, all the waitresses equipped with lighters at the ready.
By 8:30 Kelly was water logged downing glass after glass of water, Jeanine trying to get him to eat some bread at least. By 9:00 he insisted they open the restaurant back up...she wasn't comin'. No text, no call. Nothing. He helped the ladies clear out the shit they set up...the silence louder than any words that could've been spoken. Jeanine wanting to say something but not sure what. The disappointment was a little overwhelming for them all. Kelly was gut punched with each candle he blew out. Who the hell ordered all these candles?
"I'm sure that slave driver Hank's got her busting bad guys or something and she can't call or she's undercover or something. Crime don't stop for no one. Not even you, handsome."
So she's on an op so dangerous she can't call me. Great. If she's not, then she didn't think enough of the dinner date to call me or worse thought of all, she forgot.
The sick look on Kelly's face told Jeanine to just shut up.
Once the place was put back in order, Kelly headed back to the apartment, a to-go bag in his hands...they'd insisted, on the house.
He texted Erin again.
Left Joe's. Be at home.
No return text.
Only one text from Shay.
Well?
He cracked a half smile picturing Dawson sitting on Shay's phone or maybe the blonde herself to prevent the onslaught of calls she probably wanted to make.
Not a text he wanted to send. It was more than disappointment. Sadness, sure. But compounded with...embarrassment. Kelly Severide's marriage proposal an epic fail. The proposal that wasn't. He was glad Shay was the only one he told besides Benny. Well, I guess Dawson knows, maybe Casey. Hell, probably all of 51 would be laughin' their asses off. He'd call Boden and see if red shift needed a sub tomorrow.
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Erin's quick 'run to the station' turned into an all day affair, almost all night ordeal. While she was in Voight's office going over the strategy for the next Oksana deal, a call came in from the target herself. Oksana's boss, a Ukrainian bear of a man based out of New York, popped in for a surprise visit to see what the hold up was. Did she not know there were drugs to be sold in Chicago? Seems like IU wasn't the only one under the gun.
The nerves in the Russian's voice were unmistakable. She was as jumpy as a wannabe groom about to pop the question. The meet was going down tonight. Didn't they understand that Mykola was in town?!
"I don't care who's in town. If I can't get the goods, I can't get them." Erin reasoned not only thinking of the rushed deal but also of a fireman who would be at Joe's at 7:00. The same fireman who'd been acting so odd the night before. Who hadn't laid in bed with her like he always did on their shared days off.
"Very well."
Erin breathed a deep sigh. Thank God.
"I will get them from my other contact. I have someone wanting this much more than you do. I will simply..."
"Hold up! I didn't say impossible." Shit.
The frenetic activity upstairs at PD was taking place about the same time Shay and her helpers were setting up a candle lit wonderland. The detectives were scrambling to get the drugs in hand ready for delivery in two hours. Impossible. Unless your name was Voight.
Erin was interrupted a couple of times with the zap of a thought that said to call Kelly. Let him know what was going on. No sooner would she reach for her cell then something else would zap that thought away...low level scum on the line with a partial order, cop assigned to evidence intake had a load just brought in but they'd have to get down there now.
Erin was in the zone...the area she used to spend most of her days. The zone that was making deals and catching bad guys or girls. A Kelly free zone that she spent less and less time in now. But with the deadline of, what? Ninety minutes, it was full on bad ass cop zone.
The meet was straight out of a Russian mob movie. The gold chains around Mykola's neck were substantial enough to sink half of Chicago to the bottom of Lake Michigan.
Erin knew she was being punished by God himself the second she made eye contact with Mykola. The way the Ukrainian scanned every inch of her body dictated a shower would be needed the second she hit the apartment. Shit. She hadn't called Kelly.
"I am so happy I made it to Chicago," he said grabbing Erin's hand roughly and kissing it sloppily, leaving a wet spot.
Erin felt Jay bristle next to her. She wondered if the hair was standing up on his neck.
The rest of the evening was spent in a dance of evade, evade, evade. It was like a game of capture the flag with Erin being the prize.
Drinks, so many drinks. Damn these Russians likes their drink, thought Erin. Mykola brought out some Russian vodka, about ten minutes later he brought out some Russian girls... "To go with the drink." He motioned for two to sit on his lap giving Erin a good study of their faces, drugged, so young. She exchanged a look with Halstead. Sex trade. Had to be. Hinted at by Oksana but nothing explicit.
The night skipped by leaving Erin little time to question the girls. Mykola was on her like poison ivy on a Boy Scout. She couldn't shake him. She managed to excuse herself to the bathroom, fingers flying telling Voight not to come in... No bust tonight. They needed to pull the girls after the party, question them. This human trafficking could be huge, the human lives at stake...
About that time, the candles were being put away for good. Kelly driving home alone.
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A note on the counter met Erin as she entered her place around 1:00 am.
Went to bed. Dinner from Joe's in the fridge.
He was pissed. I'll make it up to him tomorrow, she thought spent from her day and night. Sleep in. I'll make a huge breakfast. She poured herself a glass of water debating whether she should take a shower. No, she didn't want to risk waking Kelly up. Washing the stink of Mykola off would have to wait.
Erin kicked off her boots trying to shake the look of the young girls' faces away with them. It would have to wait. She heard the beep of her phone. Jay.
You okay? Rough night.
Yeah. Talk tomorrow. Those girls.
I know. Those girls. Tomorrow.
Erin didn't hear Kelly make his way down the stairs, watching her text away.
"So you can text whoever the hell that is, but I don't get one word. One fucking word to let me know you're not comin'."
The disappointment simmered the first few hours, gaining momentum like a freight train... now, nothing was stopping it.
Yeah, he's pissed. "Whoa, Kelly. I honestly did not have one free minute to give you a head's up. Undercover with a big Ukrainian mobster. I'm sorry but..."
"There's always a but with you. It can't ever just be I screwed up. I fucked up. I admit it. There's always an excuse. And it's always about your damn job." He rattled off the speech that hadn't materialized out of thin air. No this had rolled around in the brain for hours.
"I don't know where this is coming from but..."
"There it is again! The but. Yeah, you screwed up. BUT don't let me stop you from texting Voight or Halstead."
"I was done," Erin snarled her hackles rising at the unexpected attack. What the hell?
"No, I'm done." He walked out of the apartment leaving Erin wondering what just happened.
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The detective texted Shay figuring he'd make his way back to his best friend to bitch about what an inconsiderate bitch I am. It's not like I'm getting a mani/pedi and didn't call. It's kinda saving the world stuff, or at least saving some girls, hopefully, she justified.
She settled on a shower then a ride to Shay's since the blonde was obviously not answering, her Team Severide flag waving proudly.
"Ouch!" Erin cursed stepping on something by the bed as she hurried to the shower. She looked down at the shiny object appearing from under her foot, brain not comprehending what it was. A ring?
She picked it up, turning the object in her hand mesmerized by it. A woman's ring, not Kelly's, definitely not hers. So beautiful. Who the hell leaves a ring like this in their bedroom? She slipped it on her finger, her ring finger marveling at how it fit. It's like it's made for me, she thought.
It is for me. Shit. The detective solved the case.
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Come home Kelly.
He read the text while downing a beer, sprawled on his, Shay's sofa.
Gonna stay at Shay's. Be home in the a.m.
No, I need to tell you I'm sorry with no but. I promise.
I'm sorry I walked out. We'll talk tomorrow.
"She's sorry?" questioned Shay holding Kelly's hand. As mad as Kelly was, it could be doubled to gauge the blonde's anger.
"Yep." He wanted to go to bed but didn't want to go to bed. Wanted to talk to Shay, didn't want to talk. "I don't know," he began, the self doubt of an insecure twelve year old creeping in.
"What don't ya know?"
"Maybe it's a sign. A sign I'm not supposed to do this." He expected his friend to tell him no way, to give him the pep talk he needed.
"Maybe," Shay said quietly.
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Kelly walked into the apartment sure of two things. A few hours to cool off was always a good thing. And this was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. It didn't hurt when she pulled him deep into her body, her hands drew instinctively to his face. Her lips brushed his lightly then deeply.
A sleepless night of wrestling with the new intel, working it through like a tough case left Erin more sure than ever that Kelly was going to propose. She had missed it.
Now, how she felt about the thing, the ring, the maybe marriage...she pushed that around for the next few hours. As nervous as it made her, the more she swirled it around, she kept landing back at excited and disbelief. She tried to find a reason to turn the non proposal down but couldn't do it. Anyone crazy enough to want to marry her. Ah, Jesus!
"I love you Kelly." She pushed him back so he was really looking at her. "I am sorry. It will never happen again."
"Never?" he asked looking at her doubtfully.
"Well, not without a fight."
Kelly shook his head, the no smiling pact he swore with Shay already gone. Hell, we didn't do it in blood, he thought.
"You're killin' me, Erin. You're killin' me."
"We're going back to Joe's tonight," insisted Erin. "I've been thinking about the meatloaf all night." And the ring, she didn't add.
Kelly did honor one Shay wish... no proposal comin' tonight. It didn't happen for a reason, timing not right. He'd wait.
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"Kelly, you're gonna kill me, but I've gotta head to CPD again. I promise you, I will be home in time for you to take me to Joe's. Come hell, come high water, come Voight's unreasonable demands, I will be here."
Kelly smiled, wordlessly conveying his doubt. He wanted to believe her.
She kissed him on the forehead and headed out.
Kelly picked up his phone to text Shay. She'd been relentlessly calling and texting to find out how the makeup "talk" went.
You got dinner plans? Joe's at 7:00?
Sounds great. Can I bring Cassidy?
You move fast.
Don't be an ass.
Bring her. That red hair.
Ass.
Kelly napped, watched some hockey... finally called Casey.
"Kelly. What's up, bud?"
"Watchin' the game. You believe that bullshit call?"
"Yeah, total bullshit. You want some company? I'll bring some beer."
"Get your ass over here."
"Kelly needs me," Casey teased Gabby, already reaching for his keys.
"Yeah, you look really torn up by it. Bye. Get lost. Have fun." Dawson kissed him on the cheek glad things had been better the past couple of days, or hours. The little things, she thought, the little things.
Kelly's phone was ringing.
Clarke.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Bullshit call. I'm heading over. Cailin's been called to some meeting with Voight. I'm really startin' to hate that guy."
"Come on over. Casey's bringin' beer. I'm takin' Shay to Joe's at 7:00. We'll all go." Another night of waiting for Erin at Joe's alone was not on the Severide play list.
The boys watched the Blackhawks lose, blaming the refs, the full moon, Voight. Casey and Clarke gave their condolences to his lame, failed proposal.
"May it rest in peace," said Clarke raising his bottle of beer.
"Amen," added Matt.
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A text came in from Erin saying she'd meet Kelly at Joe's. Voight was being his usual demanding self, but she promised she'd make it tonight.
"Yeah, right," snorted Shay raising her bottle even though no toast was made. She came over early pretending she cared about hockey, saying all the wrong things, accidentally cheering for the wrong team...being typical Shay.
"Be nice, beautiful," Clarke scolded knowing he'd spent many nights waiting for his girl to get home, hopefully in one piece.
"The life of a detective's bitch. Not all it's cracked up to be," Shay teased.
"Be nice," Kelly repeated Jeff's words. "Wouldn't trade it," Kelly added clinking his bottle with Clarke's.
"You two make me nauseous. Cassidy just cancelled on me by the way, so if any of you assholes uses the L word I'm gonna hurl."
"Lesbian?" Clarke asked.
"Lick?" Kelly pondered.
"Lose?" muttered Casey thinking of his beloved Hawks.
"You had to go there?" Kelly and Clarke were back to bitching about the game.
Around 7:15 they rolled into Joe's nearly empty parking lot, a spattering of three cars out front.
Casey looked at Kelly quizzically. "This is the place you've been braggin' about?"
"Your special place?" chimed in Clarke using air quotes around special.
"I never said special. They have good meatloaf," he tried, looking at Shay for a little back up. The place was dark with flickers rising up creating a dance of shadows outside.
Kelly walked through the doors met by an empty restaurant, one thing standing alone... Erin at the end of the row of tables looking like something from another world, too beautiful to be real. The flickering of candle light creating an ethereal glow at the edges of her face, those dimples saying so much with a simple smile.
The guys hung back mouths open watching as Kelly walked to Erin, followed by Shay. Casey grabbed her hand ricocheting her back to earth and in between the two lieutenants.
Kelly's stride picked up, taking in his girl... the flowy mint green dress made her look like a goddess, her hair hanging in loose, free curls... Erin was an angel, he decided. He pulled his hands out of the pockets they found themselves buried in as he reached her. Picking her up a little, his smile spread across his face... "You take my breath away," he whispered honestly.
Erin was suddenly on a knee so low to the ground, he wondered if she slipped somehow. She held a ring in her fingertips. Her ring. What the he...
"No, no, no," Kelly shot out, snatching the ring, pulling her up, and dropping to his knee in one quick move.
"Erin, I've loved you from the first day I laid eyes on you, the first time I took a bullet for you, the first moment you screamed at me, remember, in the hospital. Uh, even when you stand me up." Kelly paused taking in the full view of the gorgeous creature in front of him trying to catch his breath again.
"Erin, will you let me keep lovin' you till the day I die?" He drew in another deep breath, nerves, so many nerves.
"Will you marry me?" Kelly asked eyes shining, shakily placing the ring on Erin's finger. He stood up, waiting for her answer.
"Of course I'll marry you." She brought his face into hers, letting his lips brush her lips, her neck. She cradled his head in her chest, tears flowing from her eyes, feeling a wetness from his.
"You had me at taking a bullet, Severide." Erin pressed her lips deeply into Kelly's knowing this was the man for her, now and forever.
A chorus of loud whoops arose from the back, adding laughter to the tears flowing from every single person in the small diner.
Only two more chapters in this one, but I've got another installment coming of the next phase in the Linseride saga. Hope you are enjoying this one. Thank you for the reviews and faves! I've never had so many, totally honored and in awe of the response. Let me know what you think and where you see the next fic going.
Oooh, before I forget, Robigna88 asked me to mention that she has a special project for any Linseride lovers. PM her for the details.