Wow, guys, thanks so much for your continued support - the reviews are so kind, and ALL the people following this one - I'm blown away! I have one more "thing" coming Linseride's way, so a few more chapters - then a sequel. Hope you enjoy!
Kelly Severide was engaged.
Not like it hadn't happened before, but it was almost 10 years earlier, and after that Renee number one debacle no one thought it would ever happen again.
But no one anticipated Detective Erin Lindsay. Those dimples had him at the first half smile she flashed him. The raspy voice left him dreaming about the cop long before things turned romantic. The tough as nails detective was a badass in the field, but held so much more beneath the surface. With each layer he peeled away, Kelly fell a little deeper. He met his match.
"I'd say I'm surprised, but I'm not, man. I was there, remember? Congratulations, buddy." Casey had a huge Matt smile on his face, holding out his hand.
Kelly pulled him into a big bro hug. He'd come in that day announcing to the house that they were "makin' it legal."
"She's like a female Severide," commented Hermann, forever opening his mouth when he shouldn't. The look Kelly was giving him, not lost on the older fireman. "In the best possible way," he added extending his hand warily.
"You are lucky Cindy's expectin' you home tonight," laughed Kelly taking Christopher into a hug.
"Hey, now. Leave my beauty out of this. You got a pretty good runner up," Hermann teased, happy for the lieutenant, sure they had what it took to make it for the long haul.
"How can this even be legal," moaned Cruz to no one in particular. His eyes still scanned the common room for his partner in crime, Otis. He knew his bud would be up for bitching about how Kelly always ended up on top.
Brian was progressing well at a rehabilitation facility … Katie finally returning to work, but promising a quick return. She was wrapping up loose ends, moving back to Chicago, vowing to make new, happy memories with her love and her brother.
Erin was looking into a spot for Brian with PD, every unit having their own computer nerd; she knew he would fit right in. The moonlighting work he'd done for them in the past was top notch and invaluable. He would make one of the teams very happy.
Boden was beaming like a proud papa when Severide made the big announcement. He couldn't deny he felt like his babies were growing up. First, Casey engaged to Dawson, now Kelly.
"I feel like 51 could be gearing up for a double wedding soon," laughed Boden, feeling joy in his house for the first time since the meth lab explosion… his wedding turning into the best of times and the worst of times.
"Hold up, this ain't happenin' next week, chief. Let's get used to the 'engaged' status for a while," laughed Kelly knowing the house could use this pick me up.
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The news at Intelligence went down like a body being dumped at the docks, floated around for a quick second, then sinking straight to the bottom somberly. The guys pushed the news around in their brains in stunned silence.
"Hmmph," grunted Voight heading off to his office, head down, taking in this new intel. Damn fireman hadn't gotten his permission or anything. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. "Olinsky!" he called before slamming his door.
"This seems pretty sudden, Erin," mumbled Jay already sulking. He couldn't deny the "definitely someday" that had never materialized between the two was a disappointment.
"Yeah, sudden," added Ruzek, then noticing the crestfallen look on Erin's face. "But great news. Really, great," he enthused getting up to give the detective a hug.
"Thanks, Adam."
"Well, it's about time someone made an honest man out of Severide," laughed Antonio, smiling from ear to ear. "And you are just the woman to do it. I am so happy for you both," he said genuinely, bringing her in for a warm hug. He'd been faced with Laura's sudden "vacation" from him, fed up with the Pulpo drama, really with his job. Another couple giving it a go didn't make him sad. It made him more committed than ever to get his wife back home.
"You and Laura are going to be busy with all these weddings. You better get her a new dress, shopping spree maybe, big guy," Erin suggested still in his arms. She knew Laura and Antonio were going to be alright. If they couldn't make it, no one else had a shot. They would come through this. She hoped her tight squeeze and eyes conveyed this message loud and clear.
"Thanks, doll. I needed that," he whispered. Message received.
"Where's Cailin," she asked looking around the room for the only other female in IU...the woman she shared more than the same career with. The two had become fast friends, recognizing themselves in the other's eyes.
"Some appointment or somethin.' Voight was pissed but let her go. I think you taught her your Hank handling ways," Dawson joked finally releasing the detective. "She'll be back in a couple of hours. You can get your girl squeal on then."
"We don't do squeal, Antonio, thank you very much." Erin walked off to Voight's office. She'd crash the Alvin and Hank drinking session going on to calm the waters that she'd messed up with her announcement. He'd need some reassurances...daddy bears not letting go of their baby bears easily, she thought smiling.
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Kelly got out of his car, tired through and through. The celebration of his news short lived with a string of calls comin' in. Everyone on edge since the building explosion that took Newhouse and injured Otis. Two fires and one five car accident later, he was home… Erin texting that she'd be joining him in about an hour. He hoped he could hold out that long and not let sleep take possession of his eyes.
The flower shop on the corner was calling his name, before a shower, before even a beer ...he'd learned a long time ago that flowers for no reason were the best flowers to give. There was a reason, he thought smiling. Erin Lindsay wanted to marry him, wanted to stay with him, wasn't leavin' him.
Severide strode quickly to the little mom and pop shop, not noticing an older man tailing him just a few yards behind. The older guy was in his late fifties but had the look and gait of someone at least fifteen years his senior.
Kelly found a beautiful mixed bouquet featuring lilies, mostly white...it was lush without being showy, classic, timeless… he thought to match his girl.
"Those are really nice," commented the older man, now stationed beside Kelly, pretending to look at bouquets of roses.
"You think?" asked Kelly smiling. "For my fiancee," he added wanting to announce it to the world. Normally reserved about all that, he couldn't stop talkin' about it… at 51, not to some stranger.
"Really?" commented the man. "Congratulations." His eyebrows lifted amused at how much information he'd just gotten without even trying.
"She's gonna be home in less than an hour, better head out," Kelly said paying the owner's daughter.
"Good luck, young man."
"Thanks." Kelly was off, flowers in hand, thinking about whistling… not giving the older man a second thought.
The old guy could think of nothing but the fireman he just met. The one he followed into the shop hoping to strike up a conversation with. The one he watched rushing down the street, almost bouncing, with flowers in hand.
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Erin was in a mood. Her announcement hadn't been received with the fanfare she'd hoped it would. Adding to that disappointment, came the news that their Russian take down was not moving along as smoothly as the vodka the Russian mobster shared last meet. Oksana was officially out, her boss, Mykola in. He'd been "impressed" with Erin and wanted to deal with her "directly."
IU's investigation in the sex trafficking operation Erin was sure he was leading was heading nowhere fast. Otis had come in to translate one of the girl's statements, but she had little information, no names, no locations, just faces. The team was working on their next plan of action, so much at stake now… young girls' lives.
It was slow going, too slow for Erin's taste, so yes, she was in a mood.
"Kelly, these are beautiful!" she called out, face in the gorgeous bouquet greeting her on the dining room table. He must be in the shower, she thought, smiling as she inhaled the fragrant smell. Just what I need, perfect.
Shower sounds pretty damn good, thought Erin taking one more whiff of the flowers before crashing the Kelly shower. She took off to the bathroom, hearing the sound of the water the closer she got, steam coming from behind the door.
She slipped in the bathroom silently, Kelly absorbed in … humming? Her guy didn't sing, or whistle, or… hum. She put her hand over her mouth, smiling, aware of the good mood just being home with a certain fireman put her in.
She crept slowly to the shower curtain, fear in her gut, sure he was going to scare her before she yanked the plastic thing away to scare him. He always knew she was in there, no matter how silent, how stealthy...her cop skills doing no good. She put her fingertips on the edge of the plastic, bracing herself to be frightened.
She threw it open so fast some of the hooks came off on top.
"Aaahhh!" she screamed sure he'd be looking at her life she had some mental problem, hearing her the second she stepped on the bathroom rug.
"Ah!" Kelly jumped back a little, foot slipping… he went for the curtain, grabbing at it hastily bringing the whole thing down with a clang.
"Jesus Christ, Erin! You tryin' to kill me?" He stared at the pole, the curtain lying caddywampus on the tile, the water forming a pool outside the tub. A naked Erin staring at him, mouth open, wide eyed.
"Ha! I got you! I scared you. You were scared, Severide!" she said reaching down to turn off the water.
"Startled, not scared. And yes, you tried to give me a goddamn heart attack, Lindsay. Those death benefits don't actually kick in till we're married, papers and all, by the way," he stepped out grabbing a couple of towels to throw in the small pool now on the floor.
Erin turned the water back on, just the faucet, reaching down to stop the drain.
"May I interest you in a bath, hero? You may need some quiet time."
"I'll give you quiet time," he said bringing her down on top of him in the tub, Erin still laughing.
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The couple didn't hear the knocking on their front door, soft at first then harder. The older man from the flower shop thought they were inside. He'd seen them both go in… the fireman first, then the woman. The beautiful young woman. She was a cop now. She was his daughter.
Well, what do you think? Erin's dad showing up for… what?