Severide could not wait to go home. He had had a super long shift, had to deal with 3 fires and 2 car accidents in the last twenty four hours. Right now, he just wanted to go to sleep for ten freaking hours.

He did not expect Halstead, Erin's partner, to be sitting on his couch, though. He did a double take and frowned, as the younger man stood up.

"Um, hey?" Severide said hesitantly, moving forward to shake Jay's hand. "Didn't expect to find you here."

They both heard footsteps and Erin appeared at the doorway, her arms carrying bed linens and a pillow.

"Oh, hey," She said upon seeing her boyfriend. "Um, Halstead is going to stay with us for a while, I'll explain everything in a few minutes."

Severide watched as they both left the living room toward the hall, and waited in confusion until Erin came back. When she did, he had opened a beer and was waiting for her on one of the kitchen stools.

"Thanks for the heads up," He said, pitching the bridge of his nose. Erin sighed and moved closer. She knew Kelly was not Jay's biggest fan but she could not let him be in trouble. She stood between his legs and placed a hand on his thigh.

"Look, Halstead has a bounty. $100,000 to whoever kills him." Severide's eyes widened. He had only heard such stories in TV series and movies. "He can't go to the same places he's used to, his apartment has been broken into and last night... We were at a bar and someone tried to shoot him, but shot his bartender friend instead, and she died this morning. So I'd rather not he be alone right now. Are you okay with it?"

He placed a hand over hers and kissed her quickly. "Yeah, no problem. I'm sorry I snapped, I had no idea."

"I know you feel threatened by him, but he's just my friend and partner at work."

He placed his thumb over her bottom lip and smiled, "I know. I trust you."

He bent down and kissed her once more. She pulled away and ran her fingers through his hair. "Rough shift?"

"Exhausting," He sighed and pulled her closer. "But I feel a lot better all of the sudden. I think it has to do with you."

Erin raised her eyebrows and smirked, leaning even closer until their lips almost touched. "Oh, really?"

"Mmh," he murmured, before capturing her rosy lips in a slow kiss. Erin cut it short, and patted his chest, lightly pushing him away.

"I have to go back to the station for a little while. You think you can behave yourself with Jay?"

Severide rolled his eyes, "We're not teenagers."

Erin crossed her arms over her chest. "Oh, no?"

He playfully slapped her butt. "Get outta here."

He asked Halstead if he wanted a beer, and now they were both watching whatever game was on TV, and it was awkward.

"How, um-" Kelly began, catching Jay's attention. "Has Erin been okay at work, lately?"

Jay set his beer on the coffee table and pulled his eyes away from the TV, straightening up. "She's been... better than before she went away, but it's not the same as before. She doesn't crack as many jokes, she even lets me drive," it was supposed to come out as a joke, but the truth dawned onto him, that Erin was still struggling. "But she'll be okay. Thank you, for looking out for her. She's one of my best friends, and I know you and I didn't take off with a great start but I'm glad she has found someone like you to look after her."

Kelly shrugged. "All I want for her is to be okay. To be back to normal."

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation and Severide stood up, but was stopped by a hand grabbing his arm. He looked down and Jay standing up, a hand on the gun he wore at his waist. He put his finger against his lips and motioned for Kelly to get back.

He was about to make it to the door when a feminine voice sounded through the door.

"Erin! It's your mom."

Jay sighed and pulled his gun back in it holder, while Severide walked to the door and opened it.

"Well, hello," The petite woman cooed as she did a quick scan of Severide's body. He frowned and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Hello ma'am,"

"You are?" She asked as she pushed past him to get into the apartment.

Well, that was awkward.

Kelly followed her and pushed his hands in his pockets. "Kelly Severide. Erin's boyfriend."

"Oh!" She exclaimed. "I've always thought you were the boyfriend," she said, pointing at Jay, who stood against the wall.

Scratch that, this was awkward.

"You're always with her at the station, and I figured..."

Jay's eyes widened. "No ma'am, just co-wokers."

"Well, that's a shame!"

Kelly cleared his throat and cocked an eyebrow. "Is there anything I can help you with, ma'am?"

"Oh, yes," She said as she reached inside her purse and retrieved an envelope. "Here's the invitation to my wedding. Can you give it to her when she gets back?"

Kelly took it between his fingers. "Sure thing."

"Thank you," She brushed past both men as she walked to the door. "I'll see you at the wedding, then."

Neither of them knew who she speaking to.

Erin sighed as she came back home around eleven pm. She discarded her jacket and boots and walked straight to the bedroom. Severide was still awake, and seemed to have just gotten out of the shower, his skin glistening as he sat on the edge of the bed, his back to her, admiring the lit city in the night.

She climbed on the mattress and sat behind him, resting her chin on his shoulder and rubbing her hand over his biceps.

"I would fall asleep right now," she whispered, feeling the vibration of his chuckle against her skin. "I wish I had the day off tomorrow so I could stay here with you."

He rubbed her thigh and shrugged. "Call in sick."

Erin scoffed, "I have never had a sick day in my career, and you think I would do it just to be with you?"

"Gee, thanks."

She slapped his shoulder lightly. "You know what I mean."

She stood and took off her gun holder, placing the weapon in the drawer of her bedside table like she did every night. He took a deep breath and looked at her.

"Your mom came by tonight."

She turned around sharply, her eye widening. "My mom?"

Kelly nodded. "She-um, came by to drop off the wedding invitation."

Erin rubbed her forehead. "God... She just can't get the clue, can she?"

Kelly stood and placed his hands on her hips, "Aaand, she ships you and Halstead."

Erin cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

"She asked me who I was, so I told her I was your boyfriend and she told Halstead that she though he was your boyfriend."

Erin buried her face into her hands and dropped her head against his chest. "I'm so sorry."

"It was just a little bit awkward, that's all," Kelly said. "Are you going to go to the wedding?"

Erin pulled away and sighed. "Ugh, I don't know. I don't think so. She shows back up in my life just like that, painting me the perfect picture of the mom I've never had. I just don't want to start trusting her again, so she can leave me afterwards."

He took her hand and squeezed. "I understand," he murmured. "Whatever you decide, I'll support you. You don't have to do anything you are uncomfortable with, Erin."

Erin closed her eyes and nodded. "I know, I know. It's just... a part of me wants her to be happy, but the other part is just telling me not to trust her, that she'll let me down once again. Is that selfish?"

Kelly shook his head. "It's not selfish. She literally abandoned you when you were a kid, it's normal to feel this way. But, then again, it's just one day. You don't have to keep in touch after that, and it'll mean free food, good music," a cheeky smile appeared on his face and he ran his eyes up and down her body. "Great dress,"

She slapped his chest and rolled her eyes. "Jerk. I might just take Halstead as my plus one."

He smirked, "I'm sure your mom would be very pleased."

Erin's face grew more serious as she let out a breath. "I still need to think about it." Her phone beeped on the bedside table and she reached for it, seeing a message from Grabriela.

"Casey proposed!" She exclaimed, turning back to Kelly with excited eyes and a giant grin on her face. Severide smiled and nodded.

"I know. I'm the best man."

Erin's eyes grew even wider. "Are you kidding me? You're gonna be in the wedding."

He pinched her side, "Jealous?"

Erin snickered, "Please, I'm not jealous."

"You so are," He said with an arched brow. "Are you jealous that you're not in the wedding or that Gabby is getting married?"

"What do you mean?"

He had not expected the conversation to turn this way. "Well, would you like to get married one day?"

Erin's mouth gaped open as she set her phone back on the bedside table. "Is-is that a proposal?"

Severide cocked his head to the side. "Would you like it to be a proposal?"

She swatted his arm once again, "You can't answer a question with another question."

He laughed, "All I'm saying is that I know I'd like to get married one day, and I don't know where you stand on the subject."

She blinked several times. "I could see myself married. And I want to marry you, someday,"

He sensed her hesitance, "But?"

She took a deep breath, "But we've been through a lot lately and I have barely started to feel better and it just doesn't feel like the right time to propose."

He nodded his head and tried to lighten the mood, "Please, that was not a proposal, I would be well below my game here. Let's say it's a promise."

She did not need him to clarify on what his promise was, and simply reached up to press her lips to his.

"Engine 51, truck 8, squad 3, ambulance 61. Multiple car accident, Monroe Street."

The whole team stood up and rushed to the doors, put on their gear and jumped into the trucks. When they got there, they realized it was a three-car-accident, one alone on the side and apparently empty, and the two others jammed into each other.

Severide's stomach turned when he realized one of the two police cars was Erin's. He got off the truck as it stopped, and saw Voight come out of one of the cars looking fine, but his SUV had its nose jammed into Erin's car.

"Capp, take the K-12!" He yelled at his partner, while rushing to Erin's car. He found her alert and responsive, bleeding from the side of her head but other than that she seemed alright. "Erin,"

"Kelly," she murmured in panic. "Halstead is not breathing. I don't know if-" She stopped herself, covering her hand with her mouth. Severide tried to open her door before she had a panic attack but the thing was stuck.

He saw Casey and his team working on pulling the SUV away from the car to get to Halstead and crouched down to Erin's level.

"Erin, I need you to breathe, alright?" He said, as Capp worked on opening her door. He watched around and saw Antiono come out intact of Voight's SUV. He pulled off his glove, reached inside the car and placed two fingers on Halstead's neck, sighing in relief when he felt a weak beat against his digits. "He's still breathing, but we need to be quick!"

Erin's door was ripped out and Gabby placed a c-collar on her just in case, and Severide helped she and Shay to place her on the board.

"Halstead," she called out, but the c-collar prevented her from turning her head. Severide took her hand and followed the gurney to the ambulance.

"They're taking care of him," he said, "He's alive."

Before they loaded her in the back of the ambulance, he bent down and kissed her forehead. "I need to stay here. I'll see you in the hospital, okay?"

She closed her eyes and nodded lightly, and he dropped another kiss to her knuckles before letting go.

When he got to the hospital, he found Erin waiting in the waiting room, along with her team. She had a band aid on her forehead and a bruise on her temple, but other than that, she seemed to be fine.

He still had his gear on, drawing curious glances from the other people in the waiting room. He sat next to Erin and took her hand.

"Have you heard anything?"

Erin nodded, "He's in surgery right now, he had an internal bleeding. They say it's not looking good."

"Truck 81, squad 3, engine 51, ambulance 61. Building in fire, 33 Melrose avenue."

Kelly silenced his radio, "I have to go. Keep me posted?"

The brunette nodded once again and kissed his cheek. "Please be careful."

"I will."

They had just got back from yet another call, and Severide just wanted to sleep for a little while to gain some energy. Just as he was about to close his eyes, someone knocked on his office door. He was surprised to see his girlfriend standing on the other side and motioned for her to come in.

He stood up and walked over. "Hey. How's Jay?"

Erin rubbed her eyes in exhaustion. "Still hanging. The doctor said his life should no longer be in danger."

He grabbed her shoulders and rubbed them, "That's good news, Erin."

"I know, I know," She said, on the verge of tears. "I just can't... I though I was going to lose him. And I can't lose someone else right now, I just-"

"Hey, hey," He cupped her face and locked eyes with her. "He's still here. He'll pull through. C'mere,"

He pulled her against his chest and she sobbed into his shirt, the emotions of the day crashing down in an instant. He rubbed her back, setting his chin on top of her head.

"He's my best friend," she whispered against his torso. "He has to be okay."

"I know," He murmured, but he did not know what more to say.

She pulled back and brushed her tears away with her the back of her hand. "I-I couldn't stay at the hospital, they wouldn't let me."

"Stay here. I was about to sleep for a little while."

She looked through the glass door. "The chief won't mind?"

He placed his hands on her hips and brought her to him. "Unless you're suggesting other activities than sleeping, he won't mind."

She chuckled and kissed his lips quickly. "Nice try."

They both laid down and Erin breathed out slowly, feeling the exhaustion of the day dawning onto her. She rested her head against his chest, and the slow and steady beating of his heart sufficed to put her worry at rest just for a while.

PLEASE READ: Thank you so much for the amazing response on the last chapter, glad to know you're still with me! If you have any suggestions/requests on what you would like to see next, let me know!

Aaaand, if we hit the 300 review mark on this chapter, I will update within the next three days! :)