Title: Plan C
Chapter 11 – A Step in the Right Direction

When Kelly Severide's eyes open the next morning, they look up into a sweet smile.

"Daddy!" Aurora exclaims as she leans in closer, his uninjured arm trying to reach up and hold her close; his eyes instantly watering.

"Baby…girl," he whispers as Casey quickly steps up to hoist Aurora out of Erin's somewhat sleepy grasp and carefully places her beside her father.

"What happened daddy?"

"Work…accident," he replies, looking up to see his father nodding in agreement.

"Why?"

The automatic question is expected and he can't help but laugh as her curious little hands start to fondle the tubing that leads into his arm and then one up to his nose; supplying nutrients and oxygen. Erin watches the two of them softly talking and feels her heart melt. She had read Voight's text over and over; her smile remaining and her mind relieved. It wasn't that any of them relished in Randy's death but now with him finally at peace the rest of them can go on with their lives without the threat of someone hell bent on personal destruction coming to ruin it.

"So uh…can I go home yet?"

"Not for a few more days Mr. Severide," Dr. Harvey's voice is heard as all eyes turn and look at the older man as he enters.

"But…."

"It'll be up to Lakeshore to decide when to send you home. But…we are sending you back there today."

"Really? I'm ready for travel today?" Severide inquires as Casey lifts a mildly protesting Aurora off Severide's bed and hands her back to Erin.

"Well let me just confirm a few things."

"Want dadda," Aurora huffs as she slumps down into Erin's grasp; the doctor closing the curtains so he can check his patient to make sure he's transport ready.

"I know sweetie but the doctor is going to make sure that daddy is okay to be transported home and then we'll all be going home in a helicopter," Erin informs the little girl; Pauline and Don having left the night before.

"Why can't I see dadda?"

"Well…because he's…naked," Erin replies with a soft smirk as Aurora slightly giggles.

"Daddy's…nekid…"

"I heard that," Severide mentions dryly; eliciting a few more giggles; Erin's cheeks instantly warming.

"Is that a drawing for daddy?"

"Yes. It's him and his fire truck and pouch."

Erin can't help but smile at the little picture, her mind recalling him telling his daughter a cute little story about the lovable 51 canine only an hour earlier. "He's going to love it," she tells her in truth as she keeps careful hold on her. They listen to the doctor giving his nurse some instructions for transport and the team that would go with them. After that, Casey, Benny, Erin and Aurora all head down to the cafeteria to get some breakfast while the doctor and his staff prepare Severide for transport and then all reconvene on the helipad about an hour later; home only a short flight away.

"Thanks for everything," Benny thanks Dr. Harvey as they clasp hands.

"Good luck to you all!" The older man replies as he closes the helicopter door and then backs away to a safe distance before turning and ducking back into the building. The helicopter takes off; Lakeshore Medical its next stop.

Once they arrive it's a flurry of activity, as Severide's unconscious frame is rushed to the ICU to make sure everything had survived the trip in tact; the rest of them dispersing to their homes to freshen up and then come back when they were able. Erin's heart literally starts to ache when she hugs Aurora and then watches her leave with Casey. Trying to push aside her own emotional melancholy, she hurries toward a cab – directing them to go to precinct 21; wanting a quick update and then home to freshen up and right back to the hospital. Casey would take Aurora home to get her changed and change himself, get them something to eat before coming back; Benny Severide remaining at his son's side.

"How is he?" Voight asks Erin in concern.

"He's…I know you saw the photos of when he was found," Erin replies with a heavy frown as Voight nods in agreement. "He's lucky to be alive. Hank…Randy he…he nearly killed him."

"He's gone. I guess the stress of knowing what kind of sentence he was facing was too much. Jack Stanton was sent everything and he'll close the case on the FBI's end. Randy Cameron will never hurt anyone again," Voight replies firmly. "How's Aurora?"

"She's…leaving her just now…it felt so…I feel empty," Erin confesses with a heavy sigh. "I want to be there with her…with them. I know she's in good hands with Matt but…I told Kelly I love him. I do…I want to be a family with him and nearly losing him…made me realize that even more. But…"

"But what?"

"I'm scared. Silly right?"

"Seems pretty normal to me. And…you'll will be soon enough," he assures her. "A family I mean."

"You're anxious for this."

"For you to be happy," Voight corrects her. "You need to go home and take a moment for yourself."

"I need to be at the hospital."

XXXXXXXX

"Want to be with daddy," Aurora moans as her and Casey enter the quiet apartment. She looks at Casey with a sad expression who nods in agreement and gives her a warm hug.

"I know sweetie, but daddy is sleeping right now. So we need to get you changed into something…" he starts and then stops, wondering if she's had a bath recently. Suddenly he wishes Erin was there to help out or even his sister as he remembers Shay chastising Kelly about Aurora needing her privacy as she grows up especially when she gets into school and will be reminded that she's not supposed to be naked around strangers and…he's not direct family – namely her father. Even Benny doesn't bathe her. So with that he picks up the phone and calls Erin.

About half hour before the call, Erin enters her quiet apartment and stops and listens as glum silence greets her. For a few split seconds she pictures Kelly's handsome face smiling at her, Aurora bouncing in his grasp as they ask her if she wants to just 'hang' with them.

"I miss them already," she softly laments before she pulls away and heads into her bedroom to change into something fresh. After that she wanders into the kitchen to get a snack, pulling open the fridge but stopping just as the door is pulled open.

"Matt? Is everything okay?"

"Yeah…fine. I uh…Christie's busy and Pauline is out but um…I need help giving Aurora a bath. Normally Kelly would do it but…it should be a woman now."

"I'll be right over," she states in haste; hanging up so fast she'd have to apologize later to Casey for her abruptness. On the drive there she wonders if she should pick up some groceries or…her mind spinning in a thousand different directions at once.

"Thanks for the help."

"Not at all. I remember Shay talking about privacy and all that."

"I know she'd want you here to do this," Casey tells Erin in a kind tone as she looks up weakly.

"Thank you," she acknowledges with a friendly smile as Aurora comes bounding into the room and wraps her arms around Erin's legs. "Hey lady bug."

"Where's daddy?"

"He's…in the hospital and I'm here to give you a bath and then we'll go see him," Erin declares as she swings Aurora up into the air on her hip and then carries her to the bathroom. I'll just give her a bath and…her mind ponders but then stops short, much like her footsteps as soon as she enters the bathroom. And…and I don't know the routine. "So…" she starts and then pauses before putting Aurora down and then heading for the bathtub. "Can't be too hard," she huffs before she turns on the water and then starts to let it fill the tub. "Bath…right…I can do this. I take down vicious criminals…surely I can give a five year old a bath. So…" But just before she can ask Aurora what the routine is, the little girl darts from the room and disappears from view.

"Course it won't be easy," she sighs as pushes herself up from her knees and enters the hallway, Casey rounding the corner just as Aurora enters with her Dora bathtub dolly and all three of them freezing in place. "Just a bath right?" She asks Casey in wonder.

"Never asked Kelly but…I'll call Pauline and ask. She won't mind."

"Okay."

Erin follows Aurora back into the bathroom, telling herself this will be easy. But it's not. The water is at first too hot. Then too cold. Then soap accidentally gets into Aurora's eye. Then she drops her soaking wet dolly on the floor, making a big puddle. Then…

"Shay made it sound so easy," she whispers with a small smirk as she plucks Aurora's clean little frame from the bathtub and wraps her in a large, fluffy towel. As she starts to gently dry her delicate, pink skin, Erin can't help but hum and look at the little girl with an adoring glance. There was so much Shay in her but also so much Kelly – she was the perfect representation of both parents.

"Okay…let's get you dressed and then go see daddy."

"Is he okay?" Aurora looks up at Erin with wide sad eyes; making her heart droop.

"Yes…" she answers as her hands gently cup her cheeks before she plants a small kiss on her nose, "he's going to be fine. He'll need a lot of love from all of us, but we can do it right?"

"Yes."

"Yeah we can. Come on."

Casey watches from the hallway as Erin passes by his view with Aurora in her grasp and offers them a happy smile; feeling content that Aurora was in good hands and that Erin would be a tremendous help for Kelly when he was forced to go back to work and not able to help his friend all the time. But he also knows that after what Kelly has been through, he cannot offer the same emotional support that he knows Erin cannot offer.

"There sweetie…all set to go see daddy," Erin states happily, inwardly relieved that Aurora ends up looking somewhat put well put together. This parenting stuff…it's not easy.

"Do you guys need any groceries or anything?" Erin asks as she rejoins Casey in the kitchen; pulling open the fridge and staring in disbelief. "Looks…like mine."

"It normally has lots of food," Casey admits with a small smirk as he starts to right down a few edible items before the three of them head for the front door to leave; heading to the hospital to get an update. Casey tells her that as soon as he gets the latest, he's heading to 51 to update the teams and then would be back to spell her off.

Once they get to the hospital, the three of them slowly head up to the ICU room, where Benny greets them with a somewhat relieved expression.

"How is he?" Erin asks in haste as Benny scoops Aurora up into his grasp.

"He's…"

"Awake," Kelly Severide's voice is heard as he watches as Casey, Erin and Aurora come into view.

"Daddy!" Aurora shouts, trying to squirm out of her grandfather's grasp.

Severide watches his father carry his daughter to his bed and help her sit down on his uninjured side. He had awoken about half hour earlier, looking up to see his father sitting by his bed.

'I was so worried,' Benny had confessed, happy that they were alone so he could tell his boy that he loved him and not fear the gruff Benny Severide persona would be shattered.

'I was to. Dad…Randy he…he wouldn't stop. The things he said…about his partner…about Erin…about me…'

'Whatever crap he said was just that, crap!' Benny had retorted angrily before he settled back down. 'Erin loves you, I heard that. That's real. Randy is dead and…'

'Dad…are you sure, because he said he would come back a…'

'Trust me son, Randy Cameron is where he belongs – in the ground! I'm just…what the doctors said you endured…I'm just…damn you're going to be okay.'

That's how it started and it went from there. It was the first time him and his father had really talked in maybe months…a year? Benny emotionally confessed how much he cared for his son and would be lost if Randy had taken him away.

Severide was finally able to open both eyes, the left one still a bit swollen but his mind thankful that he's able to gaze upon his daughter…his girlfriend…father…friend and….just life in general with both eyes; Randy Cameron be damned. The three adults all talk a bit, Aurora happily sitting on her father's bed coloring away. They don't talk about Randy in front of Aurora, the Lakeshore doctor's privy to the details of the attack for medical reasons but not the motive.

A few hours later, Casey excuses himself to go to 51 and give them an update; Benny having to check in with the AI office before he heads home to take his turn to freshen up and then return. Pauline and Don would drop by later but Erin remains at his side with Aurora now nestled on a sleeping chair.

A few hours after that, Erin reenters Severide's room, having just stood up to stretch and walk around a bit while Severide gets some additional rest; his day busy with visitors and medical staff.

"Hey," he whispers as she nears the bed; her frame easing itself down into the chair beside his bed, Aurora peacefully napping a few feet away. "Here for…my sponge bath?" He playfully wags his brows; her cheeks instantly warming.

"Of course," she smiles. "You know…speaking of baths. I gave Aurora a bath today…was a first," Erin admits with a warm smile as she tries to take a sip of her remaining coffee.

"Yeah? How was it?"

"Think I got more water on the floor," she retorts with a small smirk; her frown returning as she looks away with a small huff.

"What's um…going on? You didn't have to i…" he starts only to have her lean in and silence him with a small kiss, pulling back with a strained smile as he looks at her with adoration.

"I blame me for this."

"No…" Severide shakes his head. "Randy was to blame. Please…don't blame yourself."

"When I see you like this…Kelly I…I meant what I said. I need you in my life. I'm scared of screwing up but…but that's natural right?"

"When Shay told me about…well Plan B," he pauses with a small smirk. "I was freaked out. A father? Doing all the dad stuff but…" he stops and looks over at his sleeping daughter. "But now I wouldn't trade it for anything. When you gave her a bath it um…that's just you know…everyday stuff."

"I'm not afraid of everyday stuff."

"Did you dress her?"

"Yeah…why?"

"Socks don't match…the sweater," Severide teases with a small smirk.

"Ah, so that's the secret," she nods and then grins; her hand gripping his. "I told Matt that…I know he'll have to go back to work soon and…and I want to help out. Just…you know I wanted a trial run right? Now seems like a good time to start."

"Really? A trial run at…living together?" Severide asks in happy surprise. "Being a family…or not?"

"Well helping out…just being there, with you guys and…yeah a family. What do you think?"

He looks at her determined expression and can't help but smile and grip her hand a bit tighter and nod as he tries to swallow. "Yeah I want that. I wish I could hold you…in both arms."

"Soon enough," she whispers as she leans in and kisses him on the lips. "I'm just glad you're here."

"Me too. You uh…you have to take her home. I want her to go to school. I know she'll want to stay but um…I don't know. I'm just…"

"I'll go and talk to her teacher tomorrow. I know Matt has to get back to work. I don't mind. If I come back to soon, I think Hank will fire me," she lightly quips as he offers her a sleepy smile. "You need sleep," she states softly as she leans in and kisses his forehead. "We'll be back tomorrow."

"I love you," he whispers as she hovers over the bed, looking down with a loving smile.

"Like hearing that."

"Like saying that," he admits in truth as she tells him the loving sentiment in return.

She pulls the blanket up to his shoulders, careful of his casted arm and then making sure he'd be warm enough for the night. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Severide watchers Erin pick up his daughter and bring Aurora to his face, his good arm giving her little frame a warm squeeze, kissing her cheek and telling her he'd see her tomorrow. The he watches them take their leave and then presses the little button that turns off the small overhead light, bathing him in darkness and allowing him to close his eyes and try to sink into sleep. Despite the day being busy and his body physically exhausted, he feared that his mind would remain awake all night.

'I gave Aurora a bath…' just the fact that she wanted to help Casey with his daughter, warmed his heart and made him nervous at the same time. She was happy to help…if she didn't want to, she would have said no right from the start. So he forces himself to pick a happy memory and try to focus on it. However, it doesn't work and for a few split seconds, he's tempted to reach for his phone and call her to come back. She's been at your bedside for almost four days, she needs her rest and so does Aurora.

He presses his call button, asks for a sleeping pill and then finally sinks into darkness. He couldn't leave this place fast enough.

That same night, Erin follows Casey into the apartment, taking Aurora to her bedroom and helping the sleepy little girl into her pajamas and then into bed. She says goodnight to Casey, telling him she's more than content to sleep on the couch. But as soon as Casey's bedroom door is closed, Erin quietly slips into Severide's bedroom, pulls back the top blanket and then eases herself into his spot.

"Kelly…" she whispers as she closes her eyes and allows his husky scent to play with her emotions. Her eyes water and within seconds, anxiety-ridden anguish floods her entire frame and her starts to shudder; letting out a few sobs and clutching his pillow in misery. And for the first time in days, she allows herself to dispel every single drop of angry emotion her body had been holding back. Finally, her mind finally latches onto his scent and forces her to think about their date; that coupled with physical exhaustion and she's asleep within minutes.

XXXXXXXX

"Daddy!" Aurora exclaims early the next morning as she bounds into her father's bedroom, sees the sleeping form and then jumps onto the bed.

"Wh…Aurora…hey…morning."

"Where's daddy?" Aurora asks with a frown as Erin forces herself to sit upright.

"He's in the hospital sweetie. Hopefully he can come home tomorrow or the day after and then…soon, okay?" Erin stammers somewhat nervously. "Want some breakfast?"

"Want daddy," Aurora looks at her in sorrow.

"Me too."

"Come on," Erin states as she pushes herself from Severide's bed, takes Aurora by the hand and heads into the kitchen. "So what…do you do for breakfast? What do you guys normally…do?"

Just at that moment, Casey enters and once again lends a helping hand; Erin watching as Aurora heads for the cupboard that is at eye level and pulls out three plastic bowls.

"What about daddy?"

"He gets special breakfast at the hospital," Casey replies with a friendly nod as he pulls out the cereal and milk. Wanting to help her as much as he can, Casey starts to tell her about their daily routine, how they start a typical work day and how they end it; concluding with telling her that it was pretty routine.

"Kelly keeps saying that, routine…as if he's afraid I'll find it boring."

"I think he's kinda worried about that," Casey tells her as they all get ready to head out; Casey heading out to 51 to work and Erin to the school to talk to Aurora's teacher and then to the hospital.

"He should be more worried about my cooking," she gently snickers as the door is locked and head into the hallway.

"One more thing you two have in common," Casey smiles as he gives her a warm hug and then a hug and kiss for Aurora. The two of them part ways; Erin taking Aurora to her school, in the hopes of talking to her teacher and seeing what she should do next.

XXXXXXXX

"Is he okay?" Andrea Green, Aurora's teacher inquires in concern.

"He'll be off work for a few weeks but he's going to be okay," Erin answers in truth; once again not telling the real reason Kelly Severide was taken out of commission. "I uh…I'm new at all this so…he said Aurora should go to school but…" Erin pauses as she looks over to see Aurora playing with her friends, Belle and Jasmine. "Do I just leave her here?"

"Why not try it and if she starts to really fuss for her father, I'll call you. How does that work?"

"Okay," Erin replies as she quickly scribbles her number on a piece of paper and hands it to Andrea Green. "Thank you."

"Of course," she offers a friendly smile.

Erin takes her leave, heading for the car and then for the hospital. Outside the hospital she runs into Voight and looks at him in relief. "How is he?"

"He's awake and wanting to leave. Can't blame him," Voight answers in truth. "I just wanted to tell him I'm glad he's still with us in person. He asked about Randy and I told him the same thing that Benny did. How are you?"

"Conflicted…nervous, anxious…stressed, relieved," she sighs as they slowly head for the entrance. "I need to be back at work but I can't just leave him here alone."

"Where's Aurora?"

"At school. I told Pauline and she agreed that it would be best for her to be there. I'll pick her up later but…"

"But what?"

"I don't know. I'm just…I don't want them to hurt again."

"You've been through a lot. Go be with Kelly and relax. Intelligence will manage a few more days without it's top cop," Voight gently smirks.

"Don't let Jay hear that," Erin grins.

"More worried about Antonio," Voight retorts before he disappears.

They part ways; Voight heading back to 21 and Erin hurrying upstairs to talk to Severide's doctor to see about when he could finally go home. She wouldn't have to wait too long for the answer. As soon as she nears his room, she stops and looks at the doctor hovering over his bed; both men looking up as she enters.

"Hey…what's going on? Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Think I'll be getting my walking papers tomorrow," Severide informs her as the doctor takes his leave, nodding to her as he passes.

"Really?" She asks nervously.

"Yeah…get to go home and finish up my recovery," Severide states in relief as he holds up his hand for her to take. "And then…trial run right?"

She takes it and clasps it tightly; the two of them now thinking about new issues that would lie ahead. They were about to trial an everyday family setting for the next few days…how would they fair? Would it draw them closer together? Or would tension force them apart?

A/N: Didn't want to drag out Kelly's hospital stay too much longer but he still has some recovery time a head of him. hope you all liked the little Erin/Aurora bonding scenes (esp for those asking for more of them) and of course lots of Erin/Kelly bonding b/c that's what this story is focusing on. and then some Benny, Casey and Voight. But think it'll be smooth sailing ahead? So please do review before you go and thanks so much!