Last chapter in this one, but a sequel is coming soon. Thank you to my lovely readers for the sweet reviews. So glad you've stuck with me and are enjoying this romp into land Linseride.
When Kelly called Voight with news of the Ritchie run away, the cop felt something deep inside. He was livid that Erin's heart had been treated with so little care, crushed with the weight of a betrayal by blood. But he also felt something more, something he would never admit to… relief. He was relieved he wouldn't have to watch another man walk Erin down the aisle and worm his way into Erin's heart as her "dad."
"I'll be damned," he muttered as Severide spilled the whole taking ten grand from Erin and skipping out of town with a note and a smile.
"Can you look into gettin' her money back? I don't wanna see that piece of shit again, but her money…" Kelly inquired thinking about how hard it was for either one of 'em to save anything significant on their salaries. They both had a chunk of change in savings, the fireman holding onto a boat dream, and Erin saving "just in case." One of the hazards of growing up basically alone, not knowing where your next meal was comin' from… you ended of hoarding for a rainy day.
"Yeah, I'll find the scumbag … goddamn asshole," Voight made the empty vow, having no intention of tracking down Erin's dad. A part of him wanted Ritchie in the cage or an even better idea, the docks. But a bigger part of him, the part that would win out would replenish her money with his own funds leaving her in the dark. Yes, better if Ritchie stayed away forever.
"Thanks. She's gonna be okay," Kelly mumbled reassuring himself more than anyone else.
"The kiddo's better off without him. She'll come to realize that cold fact and yes, she'll be okay. What about a new date?" Voight inquired wanting his turn to walk Erin down the aisle, to participate in the ceremony as her surrogate father. He loved her more than anything else in the world. Ultimately, he wanted her to be happy.
"She doesn't want to think about a wedding right now. She's talkin' long engagement again. Either way is good. I'm not goin' anywhere." Kelly said truthfully. He knew that if they were ever not together it wouldn't be of his doing… she would have gotten sick of his shit or he'd be dead. He knew those were the only two options.
Voight, on some level, knew that was the case too. Really the reason he meandered to Kelly's side in the race for Erin's heart.
Antonio filled the team in on the Erin betrayal, how she'd be out a few days, the Russian sting in a temporary holding pattern.
"So the wedding's off," commented Jay letting a small smile fall on his lips.
"That's what you get out of what I just told you? That's what your take away is?" asked Dawson shaking his head. "Don't be an asshole. Erin's devastated."
"Of course she is, I just mean, uh…" Halstead stuttered, knowing his partner must be in bad shape, his own heart hurting with hers. If he could do anything to make it better, he would. But that damn pushed up wedding was causing more than a few sleepless nights.
"They're talking long engagement now. You happy Halstead?" questioned Antonio, eyes narrowed analyzing the younger man's expression.
Jay didn't hear that last part, the question… he was consumed with the thought that the bad news got a little better by the second.
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Time didn't pause to let your grief catch up with life … life just kept on running. Erin was struck by that realization when a week flew by and she was heading back to work. It had been the blink of an eye. In that blink, she was supposed to be married, supposed to be the wife of a handsome fireman, supposed to be on a fancy honeymoon he planned but wouldn't reveal, and supposed to have a dad that actually gave a shit. How the look of that blink had changed.
None of those things happened. Instead, her heart had another little piece cut away. She wondered how many pieces could be sliced off before she was left with no heart at all. Kelly had done everything right and no matter what she did to fight with him, to take out her frustrations and hurt on him, he didn't bite. He took it in and loved her in return.
"You sure you wanna go back today?" asked Kelly brow furrowed with a concern he had a hard time concealing.
"Yeah, I'm sure. It'll be good to be busy thinking about something other than my problems," Erin answered truthfully.
"Be careful and don't get pissed when I call you every fifteen minutes," Kelly laughed lightly with his joke that wasn't entirely a joke.
Erin strode into IU with the exterior shield of confidence she wore so well. Inside butterflies were creating havoc in her stomach. Feels like my first damn day, she thought, pulling all her hair up in a quick ponytail.
"Hey part-timer," teased Jay rising from his chair to give a huge bear hug to his partner. "Good to have you back. Missed you. But don't tell anybody."
"Missed you too," Erin replied looking at the smiling faces greeting her. Family.
"Do you even have any days left for the year?" quizzed Ruzek encircling her in his arms next. "Kathy in payroll didn't take so many days when she was goin' through all that chemo," he added pushing her toward Antonio.
"You're really gonna make a chemo joke? Really? You're going there?" Erin laughed thinking this was just what she needed. Kelly was good, more than good, but the isolation just reminded her of Ritchie.
"Hey beautiful," Antonio greeted, huge smile on his face. Erin held up her fist to knuckle bump with her fellow cop swatting it away, taking her in for a full on double arm hug.
Voight rushed out of his office, narrow grin spreading across his face. "Are we done swappin' spit? We ready to put our Russians behind bars?" he gravelled out while bringing Lindsay in yet another hug.
Olinsky would quietly welcome her back later when the others weren't around, asking if she was okay.
"Hell, yeah," said Erin smiling broadly. It was good to be back.
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"What? No cake?" asked Kelly as he entered 51, the guys greeting him with pats on the back.
"We cancelled the 'sorry your dad's a douche' cake when we found out it was Erin's dad that bailed and not yours," Hermann said punching the lieutenant lightly on the arm.
"Shouldn't have done that cause last time I checked Benny's still got some douche in him," grumbled Kelly.
"I brought donuts," commented Mouch picking his paper back up, motioning to the common room table.
"Uh, thanks for savin' me one," said Kelly looking at the almost empty box that held three lonely pastries.
"Don't mention it," Mouch replied looking up briefly, knowing they left the cinnamon twisty things that were Severide's favorites.
Shay rushed in from the back… "So you don't text me in like two days?" she asked still smiling, so happy to have her best friend back.
"Was kinda busy," he answered bringing the blonde in closer, "and thanks for the advice. As usual you were right."
"I try to teach you my ninja ways, but sometimes you don't listen so well," she whispered grabbing his arm and leading him to the back.
"Yeah, I'll get my hug later," called Dawson to the retreating pair, knowing how it was between them.
"So," Shay said sitting Kelly down inside the ambo.
"So?" he replied completely in the dark.
"A date? When's the new date?" she asked excitedly, jumping a little. Kelly saw that head come pretty close to the top of the ambulance.
"I told you, she wants to have a long engagement. Nothin's changed," Kelly laughed pulling her arms down so she was sitting in front of him.
"But I was looking forward to this, Kel."
"I know my wedding is about you, but Erin's gotta have a little say," he reminded her still laughing.
"That sucks," she pouted. They stared at each other for a few seconds, Kelly not sure if he should get up or stay.
"We done?" he finally asked.
"Yes, sorry… You're dismissed," Shay answered absentmindedly, something percolating, a far away look in her eyes.
Kelly just shook his head, kissing his best friend on the forehead before jumping out.
It was good to be back.
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Shay's idea was fleshed out, hatched and didn't get the chilly reception she was expecting. She'd done all her homework, getting involved to the point of almost going too far. Almost.
"Let me get this straight. You talked to Boden?" asked Kelly not sure he got all the facts straight in his mind.
"Yep," Shay answered proudly.
"You booked everything?"
"Uh, huh," she shook her head yes to double confirm it.
"You really talked to Voight?" Kelly's eyes narrowed looking for a sign that she was pushing the truth a bit.
"I did," Shay assured her friend.
"And all this without talkin' to me, to Erin?" Kelly asked with all the air seemingly sucked out of the blonde.
Not so sure how to answer now, Shay just nodded slightly.
"Well, okay then."
Shay exhaled … "You scared the shit out of me," she said too loudly, pushing Kelly hard.
"Normally I'd be pissed, but I don't know. It seems… right." Kelly brought his friend in for a hug, thinking about three nights and four days of alone time with his girl. Time that wasn't about forgetin' something. This was all about the two of them having something they hadn't had in a couple of weeks… fun.
Big Creek Cabins in Dongola was a done deal. Southern Illinois didn't have the same romantic aura of a St. Barts getaway, but Kelly knew Shay'd spent a good chunk of change on this one. All in an effort to give them something to make it all good. He knew he'd get a couple of checks in the bank and pay her back, but the simple truth of her wanting it to be a gift made him appreciate her even more.
He'd dropped a wad on the island honeymoon that never took place. The thought of Erin in a bikini for most of the trip, when she was wearing anything at all, played no small part in his selection. This mini-trip was in his wheel house… hiking through Shawnee definitely more up his alley, but the wine tour of Ponoma would be something she'd enjoy. Shay said there was a hot tub in their "luxury" cabin but the words luxury and cabin didn't seem to fall together easily.
Leslie Shay right again, thought Kelly bringing a suitcase in the cabin that did look pretty fancy.
Erin pushed back a little at the tiny vacation protesting with work demands, but when Voight said to get her ass out of there, she let herself get excited. Shay and Voight had formed some strange bond over whiskey and chicken wings. And, of course, their almost fierce loyalty to those they loved. They wanted these two happy, so they figured that was good enough to be allies if not quite friends.
"Leslie Shay. I like the way you operate. No bullshit. Just get it done," Voight rasped out, downing another shot with the compliment.
"Are you hittin' on me, Sergeant?" asked Shay batting her eyelashes, gulping down her last shot of the amber liquid. Well, maybe just one more.
Now, Kelly was reaping the benefits of the Shay love. "Whaddya think?" he asked Erin not sure if she would be feelin' the whole cabin thing.
"It is perfect." She twirled around the room breathing it all in, the hot tub, the stone fireplace, the wood floors.
Kelly dropped the suitcase on the floor, pulling Erin in his arms. His hands caressed her cheeks, taking in those dimples, soaking them in. He drew her close, his lips touching teeth at first… her smile still stamped on her face.
Kelly reached slowly to the back of her head, pulling gently at the band holding her hair in a loose ponytail. He ran both hands through her hair, so damn soft he had no idea how it felt like that, like silk. His mouth moved from hers down her neck, nipping at the top of her blouse. He burrowed his face a little farther down, lips brushing the top of her bra. Her hoarse laugh broke the silence, the only sounds he could hear… his heavy breathing and his heart trying to escape his chest.
Pulling his shirt off in one quick move, he had an insatiable desire to have her skin on his. The feel of her on him, her hair falling into his face, those simple things that made it all worth it, that made this life worth living.
Kelly swooped her up easily carrying her to the bedroom, tugging on her T-shirt before settling her on the bed.
"Why is that still on?" he whispered looking at her bra like it was something diseased. That hoarse laugh erupted again as Erin flung it to the side. She disposed of her jeans and panties, kicking them off roughly as Severide threw his over the side, wondering if clothing would just be optional the next couple of days.
"Better?" she whispered, letting her tongue find its way to the edges of his ear, then further down his neck. She rolled him on his back roughly, her strength always a surprise to him, catching him off guard. That smile on her face said she knew it.
She couldn't weigh much, that tight little body with curves in all the right places. He didn't like her watching what she ate, didn't want her worrying about putting on some pounds … "Eat a damn burger, Lindsay," he'd tell her at least once a week. But damn that body, the body on top of his right now.
She clasped his hands into hers, taking charge, her mouth and tongue trailing along a tortuously slow path down his chest. She lingered in his spattering of chest hair enjoying the feel of it across her lips. He let out a sound she didn't think she'd heard before. "That's a new one Severide," she whispered. He couldn't respond.
Erin kissed the sides of his stomach following that little line that showed a whole lotta sweat and weights. She would never tire of that body, every indentation, the hills and valleys of muscle that were her own playground, her own wonderland. Putty in my hands, she thought catching a glance at the expression on his face. Putty.
Her mouth fell in the crevice between his hip and stomach and as she let her tongue slide across his inner thigh, another sound came from his lips. She knew this Severide call well. It said he could take no more, he needed her now. "God, Lindsay," he murmured, almost accused.
"Shut up," she commanded, crawling up, her face back in front of his. He slit his eyes open slightly and smiled. "Shut up," she said again even though nothing was spoken.
She kissed him hard, crashing her mouth into his… it almost hurt. Every time she roughed him up a little, he was again taken by her strength.
"Now," she whispered in his ear feeling all of him pressing into her hard. Kelly took that order glady.
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"Look who's all happy with a shit eatin' grin on his face," teased Shay greeting Kelly on the sidewalk as he got out of his car.
"Good to see you too, Shay. Think I can make it inside first before we start all this?"
"You brought donuts? You haven't brought donuts, since… since, " the blonde stumbled. "Since Casey came back!" She followed Kelly in almost running into his back twice.
"Let me throw these in the common room," he muttered motioning for her to stay put. She was his little shadow again.
He threw the box on the table with a hand smacking his hand flat on the table. Hard. His left hand.
"What the hell is that?" snapped Shay, eyes affixed to the gold band around his finger. His ring finger.
Soooo, they did it! Yes, that's how I'm leaving this one, but another sequel is coming. What would you like to see happen with our beautiful Linseride? If you've enjoyed the ride, please drop me a comment. Those reviews do feed the writing beast and make breaks shorter. :)