I am very sorry for the delay on this chapter, work has been crazy while inspiration has not.
SECOND NOTE: Roby from Italy (Fanfic username: Robigna88) has a Linseride project planned for September 23rd, I don't know much, but you should contact her on her email address for more information or if you want to be a part of it. Cheers !
"Erin, I'm home." Severide called out as he opened the door. He shut it with his foot and walked down the hall, dropping his bag on the way. As Erin was nowhere in sight, he walked to the fridge and took a beer out, uncapped it and took a swig. He found a note on the counter that said,
Went back to the station, new case. I'll be home late.
Erin -xoxo
He sighed and rubbed his eyes, clenching his teeth. He had been on shift for the last 48 hours, and she had worked her ass off during the days he was off at the beginning of the week. It was about 9 pm when she finally walked through the door. Severide had been waiting on the couch but eventually he had fallen asleep. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind the couch, kissing his cheek.
"Hi," She whispered into his ear and he stirred from his slumber.
"Hey." He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. She rounded the couch and sat next to him after kicking off her shoes.
"How was your shift?"
He shrugged. "Same old, same old. I've missed you."
She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his lips. "I've missed you, too."
"Don't you think you should get sometime off work?" He asked as he sat up a little bit straighter.
She frowned and looked at him. "I can't get off work right now, we're working on a big case right now."
He sighed. "We've barely had time to see each other all week. And I don't think it's that good for you and the baby that you work so hard."
Her frown got deeper and she stood. "Is this how it's going to be? You're going to be the protective guy who prevents me from going to work? Or worse, tell me what is good or not for the baby?"
He shook his head. "Why are you getting angry about this? I'm just saying that the job you do is dangerous. You being pregnant or not. And seeing you off to work scares me every fucking day. I'm scared of you getting hurt or being shot. And now you're carrying our baby, so no, I don't think it's healthy for you to be out on the field, and I am telling you."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "So what am I supposed to do? Stay home and cook you dishes for when you get home? Be bored every fucking minute of everyday until I pop out our child? Is that what I'm supposed to do?"
He rolled his eyes and rubbed them before looking back at her. "I've never said that. I'm just saying that someday you'll have to get off work. And I'm saying that now is a good time since you're almost 4 months pregnant and you're showing and soon it's going to be less practical for you to get around. But you can still help at work, do some paperwork, I don't know."
She scoffed. "Wow, you're really being a jerk about this."
She was starting to get on his nerves. "How am I being a jerk right now? You're the one who's being irresponsible, Erin ! You're doing an extremely dangerous job. May I remind you that a bomb exploded in the building you work in? That you're working until 9 pm? That's not healthy. For you or the baby. I-I think you're being selfish right now."
Tears rose to her eyes in an instant. Damn hormones. "Selfish? You think I don't care about our baby?"
"Stop turning my words around, Erin. I'm saying that you should step off, that it would be better for you and the baby. Look, I've been through this with my shoulder, I didn't wanna do it, I didn't wanna leave my job for so long, but eventually, I had to."
She pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. She was so goddamn tired, she could feel the weight of exhaustion on her shoulders. Eventually, she began to shake with sobs she didn't even know she had been holding back, and Severide had no idea how to react to that.
Out of instinct, he closed the gap between them and pulled her into his arms. "Hey, it's going to be okay."
She cried against his chest for a good minute, and he was freaking out because it seemed as if it was never going to stop. Erin rarely cried. And now tears were soaking up his shirt. Right then, he was seconds away from calling Shay in sheer panic.
"Erin, look at me," He finally managed to say, pulling her away from him so she would meet his eyes. "What's going on?"
"What if I suck at being a mom?" Her voice was so small when she said it, and he almost laughed. Fortunately he didn't, because she could have slapped him if he had. Again, damn hormones.
"You're going to be a great mom, Erin. Sure, this new arrival took us both by surprise but we're going to rock this parent thing, as long as we work together, we're not going to be lost. And I'm sure Herrmman can give us some tips."
She chuckled and wiped her tears away. "You're perfect, you know that?"
He shrugged a shoulder. "I try," He kissed her forehead and rubbed her back. "Can I ask what brought this on?"
She smiled and bit down on her bottom lip. "I felt it move today."
"You...what?"
She took his hand and placed it on her small baby bump. "It was subtle, like a flutter, but I felt it."
"Wow. Was it the first time?"
She nodded. "Yeah. It was kinda weird and it took me a few seconds to realize it was really happening."
His thumb rubbed her stomach unconsciously. "So, um, what are you going to do about work?"
She covered his hand with hers. "I guess the serious thing to do is to leave at the end of the week. But... I'm not the only one doing a dangerous job here. You have to promise me to be careful, too. That baby needs a father, alright? So don't play around, Severide. When the chief tells you to get out, you get out, okay?"
He nodded. "Yes ma'am."
They were interrupted when Nadia walked in, carrying a bag with a big smile on her face. Erin turned and smiled.
"What's with you?"
Nadia ushered them to sit down on the couch and sat on the coffee table in front of them. "I found the cutest thing at the store today, I couldn't resist!"
Erin laughed upon seeing her friend so enthusiastic and shared a look with Severide. They watched as Nadia pulled a small onesie from her bag. She unfolded it and showed it to the couple. It was a simple white onesie with written in red in the middle: My parents are badasses
Both Kelly and Erin chuckled, before Erin started to cry again. "That's so cute," she said as she took the cloth from Nadia's hand. Nadia's eyes widened upon so much emotion and she looked at Kelly who simply shook his head and mumbled hormones.
"Thank you," Erin whispered, pulling Nadia into a hug.
"And one other thing," Nadia added. "I think it would be better if I moved out. I mean, with the baby coming you'll need the extra room and no offense, but I don't want to be in the middle of a screaming baby and exhausted parents who will snap at anything."
Erin rolled her eyes. "That's very thorough of you. Have you found something yet?"
"No, not yet. Why?"
Kelly looked at Erin then at Nadia. "Well, Shay is currently looking for a roommate, if you're interested."
"Shay the paramedic? The blonde one?"
Kelly nodded with a slight smile. "The one and only."
"Cool, why not. I'll give her a call."
"Morning," Kelly murmured as he walked into the kitchen, wrapping his arms around Erin's waist from behind as she cooked at the stove. "What are you doing? You never make breakfast."
"Mentally getting used to the fact that in a few months, all I'll be able to do is make food for my man."
He chuckled and stole a piece of fried bacon from the plate. "Well I'm definitely not complaining."
She swatted his hand away with the spatula. "Get back, don't touch the food, mister."
"Really?" he asked softly into her ear, his hot breath against her skin sending shivers down her spine. "You want me to get back?"
"Ugh," she muttered, "Damn you Severide."
She dropped the spatula and turned around, pulling him down for a hot kiss. He moaned in surprise but quickly recovered, his hands cupping her ass. In one quick motion he lifted her up on the counter and her hands found his bare chest. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lost herself in the kiss. Suddenly, a flash came back to her. She pushed him away and he looked at her, confused.
"Hold on," she caught her breath, "Is it today that we're meeting Benny for lunch?"
"I think so," he replied absently, leaning back toward her in intend to give her a kiss. A hand on his chest stopped him and he sighed. "What?"
"Oh God, I'm not prepared for this," She said, placing a hand on her forehead.
"It doesn't matter. What he thinks of us doesn't really matter to me. He and I aren't that close."
She shook her head. "Well it matters to me. Can I remind you that the first time he met me you had me pressed against the wall and we were in a heavy make-out session."
"I do remember, how 'bout a rerun?"
Erin rolled her eyes and slapped his chest. "Stop it. I need to make a better impression. This man is going to be our child's grandfather, whether you like it or not, so he has to like me."
He sighed. He surely hoped Benny would make a better grandfather than the father he had been that far.
"Fine."
A few hours later, they were supposed to meet Benny at a local café down the street. Severide had been ready for sometime now (it was not that difficult: throw on a pair of jeans, a shirt and it was done.), and he was waiting for Erin in the living room. That, until his patience got to its limit and he walked into the bedroom.
"Are you almost ready or-" He stopped short and tried hard not too laugh when he saw his girlfriend standing in the middle of the room in a bra and currently struggling to fasten her jeans. He leaned against the doorway and crossed his arm over her chest. "Whatcha doing?"
She wanted to slap that boyish smirk away from his face. "My pants don't fit anymore. Don't you dare laugh, Kelly."
He held up his hands. "I'm not laughing. You look cute, that's why I'm smiling."
She huffed and glared at him as she gave up trying to put the buttons together. "You're not helping. I'm fat."
He shook his head and walked over to her. "You're not fat, you're pregnant. And I think it's cute. Why don't you wear a dress instead of jeans? We can go shopping tomorrow."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're going to go shopping with me?"
"I'll make an effort," He said and reached inside their closet, pulling out a summer dress. "How 'bout this?"
"Alright."
When they arrived at the café, Benny stood up to greet them. He shook Kelly's hand and kissed Erin's cheek. They all sat at a table and ordered some food.
"So Erin, you're a detective, right?"
Erin nodded after taking a sip from her limonide. "Yes Sir, at the Intelligence unit."
Benny's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Nice. You work with Sergeant Voight then,"
"Yes I do. I've known him for ten years now."
Benny nodded. Severide was glad he did not push the conversation because Erin was not fond of talking about her professional life. "So you guys live together now?"
"Yeah, we have an apartment a few blocks away," Kelly answered. "We actually have some news, dad," he waited for a beat, making sure he had Benny's attention. "We're going to have a baby."
Benny's eyes widened and Erin fiddled with the hem of her dress, waiting for his reaction.
"Wow. That's... unexpected. Then again, you never seem to do anything usual, Kelly."
Kelly frowned and Erin pursed her lips. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Benny shrugged. "You guys have been together for what, ten months?"
"Yeah, so?" Severide challenged, sitting up.
"Don't you think you guys should get married first?"
Kelly scoffed. "You're one to talk, Benny. You and mom did everything in the right order and look where it got us, you abandoned us when I was two, to go off with another woman, so I don't think you're one to judge here."
"Kelly," Erin said softly, squeezing his hand. He took a deep breath and tried to calm his nerves. Erin then looked at Benny. "Things between your son and I may have gone quickly, maybe a little bit too quickly for our taste, but we are definitely very happy with the news, and we can't wait for our child to be here, Sir. And I would very much like it if she or he can count on their grandfather to be a part of their life."
Benny looked at his son with a smile. "I like her. And you're right, it doesn't matter which step you take first, as long as you love each other. I'm sorry."
Kelly forced a smile and relaxed in his chair. "Don't sweat it."
Erin's phone interrupted the discussion and she excused herself from the table to pick up the call. When she came back a minute later, she looked apologetic. "It was Dawson, he needs me to come with him to interrogate someone. I've gotta go, I'm sorry."
"You do what you gotta do."
"I'll see you tonight?" Erin asked Kelly as he stood up.
"Shift starts in an hour." He said matter of factly, after looking at his watch.
"Right, I forgot. I'll call you, alright?"
"Okay," he leaned down and kissed her lips. "Love you."
She smiled lightly. "Love you too." She waved goodbye to Benny and left the two men alone. When she got to the station, she asked Dawson some time to change in her work clothes before they go pay their witness a visit.
"Lindsay, c'mon, we gotta go!" Antonio shouted from the door of Intelligence after a few minutes. Erin emerged from the locker room, while putting her jacket on, when she felt a violent thug in her mid-section. She let out a soft cry and hugged her middle, silently praying the pain to go away.
"Are you okay?" Antonio asked, closing the gap between them. He cupped her elbow to hold her up, but she stood back straight. The pain seemed to have subsided and slowly started to fade away. She breathed out slowly.
"I'm fine,"
Antonio nodded and had started to walk toward the exit when Erin felt warmth down her thigh. She looked down, placed a hand on the inside of her thigh and every single emotion left her body when her fingers came back red.
"Antonio," Her voice was so weak that it surprised her when he turned around. She was looking at her shaking hand, and swallowed. "I-I think I'm having a miscarriage?"
Antonio's eyes widened. He had no idea she was pregnant -sure she had put on a little weight but she was barely showing-, but now was not the time to wrap his head around those news. He took in Erin's shaky red fingers, pale face, the way her voice seemed to have broken when she told him. He took quick strides toward her and put his hands on her arms.
"Look at me, Lindsay," He asked her, and she blinked a few times before locking eyes with his. "You'll be fine. We need to go to the hospital, I'll drive you."
She remained silent, and let him lead her toward the exit. The car drive was dead silent. Erin knew, she just knew it. She set her forehead against the window, letting the buildings drive past her but not paying any attention. She could hear the faint noise of the sirens Antonio had put on to be able to weave through traffic faster. Then he started talking to Voight about 'going to the hospital' and 'miscarriage' and 'i'll keep you posted', and everything made her want to throw up.
She did not even realize that he had parked in front of the hospital, only registering he had stopped when the engine was cut off.
Then everything was even more of a blur. The admission desk, the nurses, the gown, the absence of a heartbeat, and the words, 'I'm so sorry Erin'.
"So, have you thought of any names yet?" Shay asked her best friend as they got back from the call.
"Dude, keep your voice down." Severide hushed her when they walked into the main room.
"When are you going to tell them anyway?"
He smiled as he sat down next to her. "Soon."
The chief walked into the room. "Severide, can I talk to you for a minute?"
Severide nodded and rose from his chair, following the chief out in the hall. "What's up Chief?"
"Listen, I received a call from Antonio Dawson while you were out on the call. You-you should go to the hospital, something has happened with Erin."
I know you all probably hate me right now, but this was planned in my head for a certain amount of time. And I do have a compromise: if we hit 200 reviews with this chapter I will bust my bum and have another chapter uploaded within the next three days. Reviews keep the inspiration going guys !