Your kind responses made me want to post this right away. Love y'all! Thank you again for all the reviews, follows, and faves!
The pair looked like shriveled prunes or wrinkly Shar Peis when they finally left that tub, Erin no longer in a mood. Or at least not a bad one. The slimy Russian would be pushed away until she returned to IU in the morning. Tonight was just for her and her guy. Her fiance.
She smiled every time she thought of the term. It held more weight than boyfriend… there was definitely nothing "boy" in Severide. Well, nothing that could be seen with the naked eye. HIs playful turns and devilish streak reserved for Shay and now her. She looked at her beautiful ring at least a dozen times a day, blinking her eyes hard, still trying to wrap her head around it. What it meant. She was getting married to a fireman who wormed his way into her heart over a year ago.
Erin Severide… she'd said the name in her mind more than a couple of times. She hadn't written it down yet, figuring that was a little too middle school, and if one of the guys caught her at work, she may as well throw herself off the docks. She was actually looking forward to the change in surname. Lindsay given to her by a non-existent father who sporadically made an appearance to hit drugs with her mom. Not exactly great role models, but anytime those slivers of doubt arose, she could hear Kelly's words, "We'll be makin' our own memories." He would assure her that they were gonna do it "their own way" and as long as they loved each other "how hard could the whole marriage thing be?"
"Hey, I'm gonna run down to Lei Wah's, get us something yummy...I'll be right back." Erin grabbed her keys heading out before someone could argue.
"No, let me go. Just need to throw on some sweats…" Kelly shuffled through one of his drawers trying to spy one pair that didn't have too many holes.
"I'm already gone. Relax but don't get too relaxed," she warned smiling, thinking about the numerous times she returned from a quick run to find him knocked out on the couch. One of the hazards of his job… kicking his ass to the point of exhaustion. How the older guys, Mouch, Hermann, kept doing it year after year was a mystery. She couldn't picture Severide ever taking it easy on the job. She also couldn't picture him lasting as long as those two with the kick ass pace he kept. She feared they would face that someday, hopefully many years down the road, together.
"No, just give me a second…" Kelly fumbled with a pair of worn sweats.
"Bye. I'll be back," Erin called shutting the door behind her and running down the steps leading to the sidewalk.
"Will you ever listen? Just once?" he asked to the empty bedroom.
She almost ran to the little Chinese place on the corner, the man following her couldn't match her steps, falling farther and farther behind. He finally decided to park it back at his daughter's place and wait for her there, an unsettled bundle of nerves forming in his stomach like a hornet's nest ready to erupt with a million angry buzzing beasts.
He sat on the bottom step watching the slim figure of his girl be-bop down the street, hands full with two brown bags. The closer she got, the clearer the man on her doorstep formed from a blurry older guy to someone who looked slightly familiar.
It had been years. How many? Too many to keep track of.
"Wh- what the hell are you doing here?" Erin stuttered out, the familiar face now identified. She dropped both bags to the sidewalk, a few Chinese cartons tumbling out.
"Hey, baby. It's been a long time." The man rose shakily from the lowest step walking slowly toward the brunette, arms outstretched hesitantly.
"Not long enough," muttered Erin taking a huge step back. She was shocked to her core, never expecting to see this man again, sure he was dead from years of self medication. Her hands were shaking… so damn irritating she thought tucking them under her armpits as if she were cold on this warm Chicago day.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kelly threw on his running shoes… it was takin' too long. Why the hell did I let her go, he thought, not accepting that he had no say in the matter. He opened the front door and saw some old guy approaching his girl. The look of alarm on her face sent ice through his veins.
"Get the hell away from her!" Kelly flew down the stairs, leaping straight down all the steps, grabbing the guy's shirt in his hands, pushing him back hard. The old man looked familiar. He'd get him away from Erin first, time for talkin' later.
"Simmer down," said the stranger Kelly now recognized from the flower shop, "Richard," he added holding out his hand toward the fireman.
Kelly took Erin in his arms tightly, looking at 'Richard" as if he had some terminal disease. Contagious.
"I don't care if you're Jesus Christ, himself. What's goin' on? Erin, what happened?" Severide could feel trembling coming from deep within the love of his life. He thought he might kill this guy if someone didn't answer and tell him why Erin looked like she was in shock.
"Richard Lindsay," added the older man. "But you can call me Ritchie." The smile on his face revealing many years of neglected tooth decay… the face itself had been handsome decades earlier, now lined beyond his age by drug and alcohol abuse.
Yeah, I just may kill this guy, thought Kelly, looking at the still extended hand as if he was going to chop the damn thing off.
"I didn't come to cause any trouble, done enough of that over the years," Ritchie laughed lightly bringing his hand down.
"What did you come for exactly then?" asked Kelly taking a step toward Erin's dad, wanting him to receive the message loud and clear that there would be no hurting this one, his fiancee.
"Honestly, I came to make amends, if that's even possible. Erin, I know I was the worst father, possibly ever. I want to do something to correct that before it's too late."
The pained look in his eyes helped to drop the trepidation in hers. This man who did nothing but disappoint her, who let her be raised by a drug crazed, crack mom was asking for what? Her time? A second chance?
She looped her arm through Kelly's forcing him to release his left arm that encircled her waist, the one that had her in an almost wrestler's hold.
"Let's do this upstairs," said Erin cautiously. She'd hoped for so much when she was just a little girl, so excited when her dad showed up bearing some cheap toy. Then he'd disappear off to her mom's room for an hour or so. Then he'd disappear for months. Eventually never coming back.
Kelly looked at her disbelieving that they were takin' this scumbag up to their place. He shook his head at Erin, but she just led the way looking about as small as he'd ever seen her.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The night of Ritchie sleeping on the couch blurred from that one night into several more with Erin letting him in further with each conversation. There was no denying he was off the booze, off the pills. But his whole story of having cancer didn't sit right with Severide.
"Erin, think about it. He doesn't have any medications he's takin.' Wouldn't he have some pills he's gotta take or somethin?" asked Kelly trying not to sound like a total ass.
"He doesn't have health insurance, how's he supposed to get treated?" Erin felt her face flush urging her anger to stay at bay. "You don't understand." As unavailable as Benny had been, it was not what Erin experienced. Kelly had a loving mom to fill in when dad went MIA. The cop had never been afforded that luxury. No, Kelly couldn't possibly understand.
Something inside Erin wanted Ritchie to know how desperately she'd been deprived of a caring mom and dad, she needed someone to regret those lonely nights of fending for herself, she needed someone to apologize for leaving her devoid of love. Ritchie was doing all of that now.
"That's not fair," called Kelly to his retreating girl, following her into the kitchen. He wanted to enjoy the precious few moments of alone time, Ritchie going to get bagels for them. "Erin can we talk about this."
"No, we can't because you can't possibly understand," she repeated.
"I thought we were in this together," tried Kelly again, reaching for Erin's hand.
"Then why do I feel totally alone right now?" she said pulling her hand away.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kelly strode into 51 with a look the guys hadn't seen in a long stretch, their lieutenant suffering from a case of invasion of the body snatchers. He'd been almost chipper since the big engagement, but today, perky, smiling Severide was replaced with his darker twin. A moody version of the lieutenant stormed past with a small head nod as greeting.
"Yep, she dumped him. I called it," said Mouch making the money sign with his fingertips. "Pay up, Hermann."
"Nope, they're goin' through somethin' for sure, but let's wait till he gets out here before we start burying the engagement," Hermann countered with one hand on his wallet, knowing that Cindy and Kelly would have his hide if they caught wind of the bet. At least he figured he was on the winning side.
"What's up, Kel?" asked Shay not bothering to knock. "Erin dad stuff?" She plopped on the little twin bed in his quarters.
"Yes, Dick, I mean Ritchie is becomin' a real pain in the ass. He doesn't have cancer, Shay, I would bet my left nut on that one."
"Ugh, really? You're disgusting," she said shaking her head.
"That's how sure I am. He looks like hell, but more of a been doin' drugs for years hell, not a dyin' of cancer hell." Kelly hung his head, feeling like the closer Ritchie got to Erin, the closer he was to losin' her.
"Why is he here then, if not to make it up to Erin? What's his game?"
"I don't know. Yet. But I'm gonna find out." No way that guy was hurtin' Erin again.
"Don't ruin everything just to prove yourself right, Kelly."
"This aint got nothing to do with me. This is about Erin not being disappointed again. I can't let that happen. I love her too much," Kelly reasoned with an honesty he'd only let the blonde in the firehouse see.
"He'll show his true colors. Just let him mess up. That's my advice to you." Shay kissed him on the forehead, holding him close to her chest.
Engine 51… Truck 81… Ambulance 61… Squad 3… Apartment fire…
"We can't just have our damn moment, can we?" asked Shay heading to the door, opening it for her best friend. "After you," she gestured for him to go first.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
It was like an instant replay of the engagement announcement that fell flatter than a threadbare tire.
"In my office, now," rasped out Voight, face red. He couldn't believe the words that came out of Erin's mouth, the girl he considered a daughter.
The young detective shut the door quietly, met with a firestorm of words all could hear.
"What does that douchebag want now? And don't tell me he wants to take you to a father daughter dance! He's 'bout 20 years too late! Where is he now? Are you hidin' him somewhere?" The red in Hank's face got about three shades darker.
"Calm down before you give yourself a heart attack, old man," Erin said feeling immediately defensive, not a position she liked or felt accustomed to. "He's hiding in plain sight at my place. We aren't braiding each other's hair yet, so just calm down." Erin realized that every time she said "calm down" it had the exact opposite effect on her mentor.
"He did not come here to kiss and make up, kiddo. I can damn sure guarantee that!" yelled Voight, up and pacing around his desk.
"I have never seen you like this. Take a breath and sit. He has cancer… he wants to make up for...for…" Erin struggled with the right words...she'd been working it all through her brain. She did feel six again, looking for approval from some man, a stranger really who had done nothing for her. But there it was. That pull from deep within wanting some relationship with him.
"I will not let anyone hurt you. If that fireman ever does anything to you, if this asshole hurts you…" No, these were not veiled threats. Voight meant every word.
"Slow down, Hank. First off, Kelly is not 'that fireman.' Second, I am visiting with my dad. We're working stuff out. And you, of all people, should understand that everyone deserves a second chance." Erin stormed out of small office, met with stares all around.
Jay took a step in his partner's direction.
"Don't you start too!" Erin yelled flying down the steps, taking two at a time, tears stinging her face.
Halstead took off after her. "Whoa, slow down, Lindsay! What's goin' down?" he asked, genuine concern in his voice.
Erin turned around abruptly with Jay almost crashing straight into her.
"My dad showed up. He's dying, and he wants to make it all up to me. Next question?" The brunette's face was stained with a river of tears, showing no sign of ending.
"Hey, that's great if that's what you want. I'd love to meet him," said Jay knowing all about her childhood, her mom and dad issues.
"Thanks, Jay. I need one damn person on board with this." She buried her head in his chest letting the waterworks continue.
"I'm in your corner, Lindsay."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The little apartment fire turned out to be trickier than the call out indicated, surprising no one. The little scrap fire that turned into a blazing meth lab explosion drove home the fact that any small call could turn deadly in seconds.
Casey led his truck guys up three flights of stairs to be met with an angry wall of fire where more stairs leading up should have been.
"Chief, we gotta head back down. Stairs gone!" Casey could hear calls coming from tenants on floors above, but getting up there through the staircase was impossible. They'd have to find another way.
Squad was outside raising ladders, helping stranded victims on balconies to safety.
"Chief, I'm taking Mills and Capp. We're gonna do a sweep, that can't be everybody." Severide and his crew put on their masks, heads down.
Casey kept the steady flow of stranded balcony tenants coming down those ladders. Kelly and his men marched more victims out to the balconies in a never ending line of ants heading to safety.
"You almost done in there?" Matt asked his squad counterpart.
"They keep comin' bud," Kelly answered shaking his head at the number of people who seemed to be waiting for their own personal invitation to exit the building. "Looks like this is the last of 'em."
"Let's go, let's go!" yelled Casey, not liking the sound of pain the balcony was moaning under the strain of so many people and the weakened structure it was attached to.
"Capp, Mills, let's get outta here! It's all clear." Kelly waited for his guys to hop on the balcony, motioning for Capp to get on the ladder.
Mills waved his hand for his lieutenant to go first. Severide looked at him like he was joking, smiles on both faces. The sound came from below...they could almost feel it if it was possible to feel a sound. They heard that ugly crack, the weightless sensation coming as the balcony gave way beneath their feet. Leaping at the same time, the firemen propelled themselves to the ladder as they saw the balcony breaking away. Arms stretched out desperately, Pete's hands clenched onto Casey's, holding on for dear life. Kelly was lower, no chance of reaching the ladder he tried to jettison to, falling way short. He desperately reached for Pete's legs, grabbing them to prevent a crash to the concrete below, cursing his pathetic attempt at a leap.
Casey let out a grunt begging his hands to hold onto the weight of two men. Kelly looked up seeing the strain on Casey's face, knowing there was no way he could hold them for much longer. The ladder was being lowered so quickly, falling really, sliding into the truck at a lightening pace. Mouch was dropping that thing like an anchor, not wanting to see anything or anyone else drop.
Mills' hands were slipping out of his gloves, a panicked look on Casey's face, the two men staring at each other, their only previous link with the woman they both loved. Now, holding onto each other, straining their muscles to the limit… past it.
Kelly's eyes were on the fast approaching ground, still a ways down … "C'mon Mouch," he muttered to himself. Weighing the distance, the fall … finally feeling the tremble in Mill's legs that said they were all goin' down. He let go knowing it was a distance, but pretty sure he could take it.
Casey felt the weight of Pete's body lessen and knew what Severide had done, would've done the same thing. He pulled Mill's up on the ladder, the men watching their friend hit the ground and go into a roll.
Shay left the resident she was treating for mild smoke inhalation, it was mild after all, she justified, running to her best friend.
Kelly lay on his back, thinking he felt pretty good. The blonde's face was in front of his before he could get himself up.
"I'm good," he said reaching out his hand for her to grab.
She used every bit of her slim body to help him up. "You okay? Really?" she asked doubtfully.
"Yes," Kelly answered hesitantly, didn't roll an ankle, legs feeling good. His arms shaking from the strain, but everything else in good working order. He smiled as Mills and Casey rushed over. "I'm good… Mouch, you're a beast on the ladder lowering thing! Think we finally found somethin' you're good at," he called out to the older firefighter.
Boden made the three firemen go home...he knew their arms would be jello for the next 24 hours. Shay texted Erin to let her know what happened, to make sure he really was "all good." She knew Kel would downplay the whole thing.
Shay didn't get a return text.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Long, hot shower, dinner, bed. Those were the three things calling Kelly's name as he entered his apartment.
Three people greeted him instead - Erin, Ritchie, and Jay.
They were eating dinner, two bottles of wine out, laughing… just three buddies breaking bread, sharing a moment in time. You've gotta be kidding me, thought Kelly, ready to turn around and head back to 51.
"Kelly, what are you doing home?" asked Erin getting up, confused. She knew her guy was on shift. "What happened? Are you okay?" She hugged him feeling his body for any sign of injury.
"Sorry to interrupt your little dinner, but Boden sent me home early. I'm fine," he said in a clipped tone.
"Let me get you a plate," Erin tried to placate her man, her smile not having much of an impact on the fireman who remained stiffly standing by the dining room table.
Erin plopped down his plate, grabbing a beer out of the fridge.
Kelly finally sat in the open seat, opting for his beer first. He gulped long and hard, half of it gone in two seconds.
"Well, we've been busy, babe. We've got most of the details worked out," Erin said excitedly.
"What are you talkin' about?" asked Kelly not having a clue.
"The wedding, Kelly. Remember, we're getting married."
No, I'm stupid and forgot I asked you when you tried to ask me, he thought, bitterly.
"What's the rush?" asked Kelly knowing enough to keep his response brief. The last time they'd talked about it Erin said she wanted to get used to the whole fiancee label.
"Everything's changed. We kind of want to get this thing done, the sooner the better." Erin needed her father to be a part of her big day, walk her down the aisle… he was on borrowed time. She looked at Ritchie then back at Kelly hoping he would understand.
"Whatever 'we' want then, right?" said Kelly dropping his fork on his plate loudly.
Going through a little rough spot right now, but keep the faith. Sweet Linseride sexy time coming soon - you know I can't have them mad at each other for long. Hahaha! But it wouldn't be fanfic without some drama, right?
Another update soon! Leave me your thoughts! Ritchie - good or evil?