Title: Plan C
Chapter 22 – Playing with Fire

Leaving Aurora with Matt, Christie and Violet; Kelly hurries down to his car, his mind worried that his wife was continuing to spiral downward and there's nothing he can do about it. He reaches the divvy bar and stops; rushing toward Voight who looks at him in concern.

"How long's she been in there?"

"A few hours. The owner is a friend of mine," Voight admits with a heavy sigh. "Said she's pretty raw but she needs to be home. I've seen her walk this path before Kelly…it's not a good one, but it can get worse. I don't want it to get worse. She needs you even if she tells herself right now she doesn't."

"I'll get her," Kelly nods; his heart rate slightly elevated and his mind agitated; Voight nearing him.

"I don't know what Matt told you but this kid…he was prepared. Had a vest on. Antonio's shot to the head is the only one that took him out. Even if Erin had been in there…she might have been just another target if she didn't kill him with the first shot. It wasn't her fault. I don't know if it'll make a difference to her but I thought you should know."

"Thanks."

Kelly then quickly ducks inside the bar and then starts to scan the room for his wife. He finally sees her, by the bar, ordering another shot and looking slightly disheveled. His heart instantly starts to ache and he wonders if she could benefit by talking to Nick; his appointment set for the day after tomorrow – the day before he goes back on shift. Boden had given both him and Matt a few extra days but he knows they can't stay away forever.

"Honey, you've had enough."

"No! Never enough…one more shot."

"Hey…" Kelly greets her in a soft tone as he shuffles down onto the seat beside her.

"Jay told you where I was? Traitor," she retorts sourly as he shakes his head.

"Voight…he was worried and called me. We should go."

"I…can't!" Erin gently snaps as she looks at the bartender with an upset grimace. "Where is my damn shot! Shot…one more shot…that's all it would have taken…just one…more shot!"

"You need…to come home."

Erin looks at Kelly and purses her lips before looking away with a tormented expression. "I look at Aurora and I feel guilt…what if she had been hit…what if…" she stops as Kelly's hand rests on hers; drawing her gaze upward. "I feel like I let you down. And then I feel happy that Aurora is alive but when I start to feel relieved I feel guilty because our friend's child is dead. And I…"

"Might not have been able to do anything. He was wearing a vest!" Kelly quickly interjects.

"What? No…no he…"

"Voight told me. The kid took a few hits to the chest but it was only Antonio's head shot that took him out for good. You might have been hit also. You weren't wearing a vest."

"Took it off…just before I went in," she huffs as she looks back down at the empty glass before her. "Still doesn't change anything."

"He wanted you to know. Come on…let's leave this place."

"I love that little girl and I feel like…" her voice trails off as her head just lolls onto his shoulder; his arm wrapping around her shaking shoulders and offering them a protective squeeze. "I just wanted to forget for a few hours. Old habits…" she groans as his brow furrows heavily.

"Want to um…want Nick's number? Might help…I'm not saying you don't believe me when I tell you…"

"No Kelly…that's not it…" she insists in haste.

"He's an impartial ear. Come on…argue with me about it on the way home."

"That's low," she retorts with a small snicker. But she's tired of arguing and so Kelly is content with the fact that his wife lets him pay for her few drinks and then the two of them walk out of the bar – in silence. "What else did Voight say?"

"That was it. He's worried like a father would be and he called me. That was it," Kelly tells her in truth as they head for home. Once they get there, Kelly heads into the kitchen to make them both some coffee while Erin heads for their bedroom to get changed; Christie and Violet already gone home and Matt in his bedroom.

Erin pauses in the doorway to Aurora's bedroom; hearing the little girl whimpering and slowly walks up to the edge and then kneels down beside the bed, pushing a few strands off her face. "Hey lady bug…what's going on?"

"Can't sleep."

"Nightmares?" Erin asks as Aurora nods. "What do you see?"

"I see that boy shouting," Aurora admits as Erin's eyes fight back tears. "I'm…scared."

"Oh sweetie," she whispers as she climbs onto the small bed and holds the little girl close. "I won't let him hurt you," she states warmly, kissing her flushed cheek and pulling the blanket up tighter around Aurora's shoulders. "I won't let him hurt you," she chants a few times; hoping the little girl will believe her.

By the time Kelly finishes up in the kitchen, he heads toward his bedroom to find his wife in the hopes of sharing some hot coffee and possibly some more conversation, however, strained, before bed so they wouldn't both go to bed with agitated minds. Upon finding his bedroom empty, he goes in search and then stops in the entranceway of his daughter's and feels his heart sink when he sees his wife passed out on Aurora's bed; the little girl safely nested in her grasp. He quietly enters the room, covers them both with another blanket and then leaves the room.

The coffee is poured out and the lights go out.

Darkness descends.

XXXXXXXX

The next morning, Kelly slips out of their apartment before anyone else awakens; heading to a familiar location, his mind and heart both waging an internal battle for which there is no easy solution. He hurries into a florist, picks up a modest bouquet and then continues on his way. Not wanting to wake them up just yet, Kelly leaves the flowers with the card of condolence and then heads back home. In an hour he'll send a text to Gurj and explain that he didn't want to upset them further but wanted them to know they were thinking about them.

About ten minutes before Kelly arrives home, Erin's eyes open and she looks down at Aurora still asleep at her side and can't help but offer the sleeping little child an adoring smile. She recalls Aurora opening up to her a little, confessing that she was seeing the boy shouting and then hearing screaming as she drops to the floor and bumps her head. Kelly's made an appointment with Nick…maybe I should.

Her fingers absently play with some stray dirty golden blond hair; Aurora slightly stirring and offering a small grumble as her blue eyes flutter open and she looks up with a small frown.

"Hey love bug."

"Morning Erin," Aurora replies as she stretches and then looks around her room and then back up at Erin. "Where's daddy?"

"He's…" she pauses, not knowing that he had already been out and was just about to enter. But before she continues she hears the front door open and then looks at the hallway with a frown before looking down at Aurora. "He's…in the kitchen I think. Making breakfast."

"Do I have to go to school?"

Just as Aurora asks the question, Kelly appears in the doorway; Erin looking up with a tormented glance, their eyes locking for a few seconds before she quickly looks back down.

"School…well…" Kelly starts as he enters the small bedroom and then kneels down beside his daughter's bed, looking at her with a warm smile and then at Erin with a loving one. "There is no pre-school today."

"What happened yesterday daddy? Is Jasmine okay?"

Kelly's heart sinks and his throat instantly seizes as his brain races for the right words. But much like he and Shay had discussed and he and Matt had talked to her after Shay's death, he knows honestly is the best policy. "Well…yesterday a boy at the high school he…he uh….well he had a grudge against some of the uh…grade twelves and he wanted to hurt them and he did."

"Did he hurt Jasmine?"

"Yes sweetie he did. She's uh…she's dead…you uh…." Kelly pauses as his brain urges him to just tell her and get it over with. "She's not coming back. You won't see her again."

Aurora looks at her father's sorrow-filled expression and slightly cocks her head; Erin's heart sinking also.

"Just like mommy."

Aurora shakes her head as her eyes start to well with tears. "Why daddy?"

Kelly pushes himself up onto her bed and gathers her into his grasp as she starts to cry. "I'm so sorry sweetheart…so sorry."

He holds her for what seems like an eternity, Erin pushing herself up against them and holding onto them as the three of them sit in silence – grieving as a family.

"Come on…let's get some breakfast," Kelly whispers as he nuzzles his daughter's ear and then looks at his wife who nods. Aurora finally pushes herself up and then hurries out of the room; calling out to Matt whom she meets along the way. "I dropped the flowers off this morning," he tells her as her head rests on his shoulder, his hand clutching hers and kissing her cheek. "I couldn't go in either. I texted him just as I got home and told him it was there and said we were um…thinking about them and if they needed anything to let us know."

"And?"

"He said thanks. I didn't expect much more," Kelly admits with a heavy sigh. "Come on…let's just use today to do a few things around here, get some groceries and…"

"I was afraid," she interjects suddenly.

"What?"

"I was afraid to come back last night," Erin whispers as Kelly looks at her in surprise. "And when Aurora asked just now…I wanted to say I failed but at the same time I didn't want her to hate me."

"She won't hate you," Kelly whispers as he kisses her on the cheek.

The two of them finally leave Aurora's bedroom, Kelly heading into the kitchen to make some coffee, pausing to talk to Matt who is going to pick up Andrea and take her home and then spend the day with her, helping her out where she needs it – both of them back to work the following day.

"I booked an appointment to see Nick tomorrow," Kelly tells Matt in truth. "Erin's mentioned wanting to talk to him and I think it's a good idea but…but I doubt she will."

"Hey remember when you procrastinated at first?" Matt tosses back as Kelly gently smirks and nods. "I gotta go. I'll see you later."

"Okay."

Kelly watches Matt head into the living room to say bye to Aurora and then heads for the front door; Erin joining them a few minutes later. The three of them make a plan for the day – doing every day stuff, both of them making a pact not to talk about the shooting or it's after effects. But despite that; the day is somewhat strained and the happy comfort is slow to grow.

However, by the end of the day, the conversation is less strained…that is until Kelly gets a text from the preschool administrator.

'Andrea will be off for two weeks for recovery and there will be a sub,' he reads the text and then looks up at Erin with a small frown.

"Wonder how they'll address the uh….absent kids and Andrea?"

"I don't know," Kelly shakes his head as he looks at his daughter in the living room on the floor with her dolly's. "Will you be okay tomorrow?"

"Yeah…I'll…try. And you?"

"Yeah…should be okay. I'm going to see Nick tomorrow and…do you wanna come with me?"

"I should make my own appointment," she mentions lightly as he pushes his phone toward her with Nick's work number on the display. "Subtle," she retorts with a small snort as he can't help but smile.

"Never been called that before," he gently snickers as her hand reaches out and grasps his. "We will get through this."

Her hand squeezes his and she nods in silent agreement; Aurora bounding into the room a few seconds later to show them the latest Lego piece that she had made for her dolls. After that the three of them put on their coats and head out to do some 'regular stuff'; groceries and errands – stopping for lunch at Applebee's and just trying to keep the conversation light and happy.

There are a few sad moments but by the end of the day the tension has slightly dissipated and the three of them are able to work together in the kitchen, making a light meal and trying not to talk about the next day with all of them trying to once again resume their normal schedule. Normalcy was now forever altered.

XXXXXXXX

"Just go to work and if she starts to really fuss, I'll come and get her," Pauline tries to assure Kelly and Erin the following morning. "There will be a substitute teacher and some missing faces. The school administrator will talk to them briefly and then try to get on with the day. None of this is easy but we have to try right?"

"Thank you," Kelly whispers as he gives the older woman a hug and then looks at his daughter with a strained smile.

"I don't want to go dadda," she says sadly, shaking her head as he kneels down to her.

"I know sweetheart but you have to…we'll all have to go out today. To work and school….you'll be fine, I promise," he tells her as he kisses her cheek and tenderly brushes her cheek. "I'll try to see you tonight okay?"

"No dadda," Aurora insists as she wraps her arms tightly around his neck, Pauline and Erin pulling back with strained expressions.

"Come on now…it'll be okay."

Aurora continues to fuss as her father tries to pry her arms off his neck and then hands her to her grandmother. At Pauline's urging, Kelly hands his daughter to her and then turns to leave, his mind a flurry of heated emotions. He knows that today will be hard for all of them but it was just another life hurdle that she'd have to try to work past, with help and on her own – even Nick said her resistance at first would be normal.

Erin, Kelly and Matt part ways in the basement, Erin heading for her car and Matt and Kelly heading for Matt's truck. As each of them take their leave, they can't help but wonder how the little girl will fare and how she'll cope going forward.

"She's going to be fine," Matt comments as the silence starts to build in the cabin between him and Kelly as they head for Firehouse 51.

"Which one? Aurora or Erin?"

"Both…in time of course," Matt quickly qualifies. "We all know today will be raw."

"I shoulda taken her," Kelly huffs as he looks out of the window as they near the Firehouse. "I shoulda been there."

"Even Nick said she needs to feel like it's just routine," Matt kindly reminds him as Kelly looks over with a somber glance. "I wanted her to stay home also but felt that would have been unfair of me to say."

"I'll call the school in a few hours, just to check in."

"Good idea."

The two of them exit Matt's truck and head for the entrance; stopping just short of the doors when they hear someone calling Kelly's name.

"Isn't that…"

"Yeah…it's Gurj. Wonder what's going on," Kelly replies as he gives a strained smile and nod to the man that approaches. At first he feels some stiff tension starting to build in his as his friend approaches; Matt wanting to at least say hello before he goes inside. Which he does and then politely takes his leave.

Kelly looks at his friend with a tormented glance, having just shook hands a few seconds earlier. "I was gonna come in yesterday but um…but I wasn't sure…I'm so sorry. We all are."

"Means a lot to us. Preeti, she's still so raw. She just cries and blames herself for not being there…asking why and I don't know what to say or do to ease her pain. I feel like I have to be strong for her sake but then…I want to grieve also but…but I don't want her to fall apart more than she is. I came here because I wanted to say we appreciate your kind words and the flowers. In the hospital…Preeti she…she was angry and devastated and…and what she said…"

"No…" Kelly stops his friend in haste. "Erin understood it was pain talking. She also feels guilty for not being in the room at the time. I know it's not the same pain but…but I have a guy I talk to. I was recommended to go to him after the death of Aurora's mom and he's…he's helped me. It's up to you but I don't mind sending you his office info."

"Sure…that'd be good."

"If there is anything…I know it'll take time to heal but uh…but yeah anything. We're here okay? I know the friendship is strained right now but we both hope it's not over," Kelly concludes with a small nod. Gurj doesn't say anything more as both men hope the friendship will repair itself in the future but they were unable to foretell in that exact moment when it would start to mend once more.

"I should go…just wanted to stop by and thank you for the flowers."

"Okay," Kelly mentions softly as he watches his hurting friend turn and head back to his car, get in and then slowly pull away; Kelly offering him a small wave before he ducks back inside.

"Everything okay?" Matt asks as he approaches; Hermann coming up behind his truck Lieutenant.

"Yeah…I dropped off some flowers yesterday and he wanted to thank me for them. I never went in…maybe that was wrong but I didn't want to hurt them further. "

The three of them make small talk for a few minutes, Hermann telling them that this always worries them as a family but it's one of those fears you just have to live with or else hide your children away from the world – and that wasn't at all practical or even sensible. They'd all heal. But it would take time.

About half hour later, Matt finds Kelly in the locker room looking at a picture of Shay and Aurora, his posture slumped over and a heavy sigh escaping his lips before he looks up in misery.

"I still remember the talk we had about the North Street school shooting…remember that one?" Kelly asks Matt as he nears him on the bench and slowly sits down.

"Yeah…kinda similar. Bullied kid brings his father's gun to school and just opens fire in the cafeteria."

"Shay was four months pregnant….she was so stressed after that…and now this…Gurj is right…I get it. I tell myself I have to be strong for Erin and Aurora but…"

"But at least you're seeing Nick later today right?"

"Yeah…that should help. I hope," Kelly sighs as he rubs his face and then puts the picture back in his locker; beside the one of him, Aurora and Erin taken on his wedding day. Matt suggests that he just sit out the morning calls until his talk with Nick, but Kelly insists he needs the distraction and would be fine.

The call would prove otherwise. But…not the first call he answers.

"Severide! Report!"

"Still here Chief!" Kelly replies with a small grunt as he reaches the upstairs bedroom. "We need some hoses up here. South side!"

"Tony!"

"Copy Chief!"

"Casey!"

"Yeah…coming up to you. Main floor is cleared! I'm coming up!"

Kelly pushes through the last door, the bathroom door. He had assumed that it was vented as he thought he heard over the crackling radio that all the room windows had been vented including the bathroom. That was the other bathroom. And it was vented.

"FLASHOVER!" Kelly shouts before he literally throws himself to the ground, a blast of superheated flames catching him on the side and sending him toppling over into the other room.

"Severide!" Matt shouts as he reaches the top of the stairs just in time to shield his face and squint in horror as his friend disappears from view; seemingly engulfed in flames. He rushes toward his flailing friend, frantically swatting at the few little stubborn licks of fire that cling to the side of his jacket. "Kelly…Kelly!"

"Casey report!"

"I've got Kelly but…" Matt starts only to be cut off as Kelly's PASS alarm starts to wail.

"Ah damn…thing," Kelly coughs as he tries to roll himself to an upright position.

"Casey!"

"Hermann over here!" Matt calls out.

"I'm…fine…" Kelly insists with a small grumble as a few sets of strong arms help him get to his feet and then half lift, half drag him down the stairs and outside into the fresh air where he coughs a few times and then looks up at Boden with a strained gaze. "I'm…fine. I…I thought they said the bathroom…was vented."

"It was. The north one."

"Okay well…go get cleaned up and go to your appointment."

"Thanks Chief."

Kelly pats Matt on the back and then slowly heads toward the front of Squad truck 3, climbing into the front of the cabin and closing his eyes for a few seconds. As soon as they arrive back at Firehouse 51, Kelly hurries to the locker room, quickly cleaning up and then telling Matt he'd see him later; Matt telling him he was going to stop by Andrea's over the supper break and then come right back so might see him tomorrow.

"Come on…" Kelly stammers impatiently as he looks at his watch and then strains his head toward the jumble of cars before him. "What's…ah damn that's just great. A traffic accident! Great!" He huffs as he pulls his phone and then sends a quick text to Nick, telling him he might be a bit late due to traffic but was almost there. Thinking his phone is in his pocket, Kelly gets out of the car; the phone falling onto the passenger seat, the door slamming shut a few minutes later.

"What's going o…" is all he starts as he looks in horror at the scene before him. "Oh no…"

"It's gonna blow!" Someone shouts; the distinct and very pungent smell of gasoline permeating every inch of space around him.

"Someone help me! My daughter's in there!"

"Fire department's on it's way!"

"They won't make it in time," Kelly whispers as he does what most wouldn't – charges toward the burning vehicle. He races toward the father who is frantically trying to bat away the flames so he can get his trapped daughter out in time. The father had finally managed to get the door pulled away but in doing so had burned his hands and was unable to continue.

"GET BACK!" Kelly shouts as he takes over, kicking the busted door open a few more feet and reaching into the burning wreck; trying desperately to free the screaming child. He feels flames starting to kiss the exposed parts of his cheeks, neck and hands but doesn't care. Time wasn't on his side.

Just as he thinks he pulls her free, he glances upward, shouting and yanking her free just as the car explodes around them.

*BOOM!*

A/N: eeks! Yeah I didn't want Erin to fall that hard or go down that dark a path. But still lots of raw emotions. I wanted to show some hope for the strained friendships and of course lots of family bonding moments. Hope you're all still with me as we carry on into the new year with lots a head for our little family if you're all still with me wanting more. Please do review before you go and thanks so much! See you all in 2016!