I'm trying to stay four chapters ahead on this one, but ALL the love you're giving me makes me want to post a new chapter every day. So overwhelmed by the response, reviews, and follows. Thank you, friends! It means so much. Hope you enjoy and for those wondering (like everyone), the Linseride love is a comin' next chapter.
Kelly looked at the one text from Voight, three from Halstead including a voicemail and the words he wanted to speak caught in his throat. Stuck along with the breath he was trying to release. He froze in the hospital parking lot, pushing call on Halstead's number, not listening to the voicemail first.
"It's about damn time… where the hell you been?" Jay started.
"What happened? Where's Erin? Tell me somethin'!" yelled Kelly pacing in a small circle with Shay's eyes following his footsteps. Kelly swallowed hard, one hand slipping into his deep pocket.
"I'm on my way," he said sliding his phone into his jacket. "Erin's okay. She's home but had a close call." Kelly's voice broke on the word call and Shay knew there was no way in hell she was not going.
Severide pushed past Antonio and Ruzek, kneeling before Erin resting on the couch with Hank on one side and Jay on the other.
"Erin," he whispered leaning in, voice betraying him again. "You're okay?" he questioned looking into those eyes, grabbing both hands in his.
"Yes, I'm fine," Erin croaked out voice so raspy it sounded like she was fighting laryngitis.
Kelly spied the dark blue across her neck… "What happened?" He squeezed her hands tighter hoping it would stop the shaking in his.
"We got into a tight spot, but everything worked out," Antonio stepped forward reassuring the fireman, seeing the worry in Severide's face, the same worry he'd seen in Laura's many, many times before. The worry that said she loved him to the core, but it was also the worry that ultimately drove her away. He hoped not forever.
"That," clipped Kelly pointing to Erin's neck, "does not say everything worked out! Who the hell did this?"
"A bad guy who is wishing he was in fucking Siberia right now," answered Hank, a fury in his eyes indicating truer words had never been spoken.
"Guys, I'm good now. I'll be in tomorrow and we'll debrief, okay?" Erin whispered, the gravel in her voice challenging the Voight rasp.
"You are not comin' in tomorrow. No one's goin' in. That's not a request, got it?" Voight barked, rubbing his hand through his hair wondering how many more of these he had in him. "You take care of her," he commanded patting the fireman on the shoulder as he got up to leave, the shake in his hands not unnoticed.
"Everyone file out," he added looking straight at Halstead.
"You scared me today, kid," he said kissing Erin on the top of the head. "I'll come by tomorrow."
Jay rose slowly, eyes not leaving his partner. Shaken by the night's events, he had no intentions of leaving any time soon. His boss' order told him otherwise.
"Hey, I'm good," Erin said to him, briefly touching his arm as it drew away from her. "Thanks for saving my ass," she added trying to laugh, but a coughing wheeze escaped instead.
"My pleasure," he smiled, taking in those eyes, the rest of the room breaking away.
Kelly got up clearing his throat to walk the young detective out.
"Thanks for whatever went down, for doin' what you had to do to keep her safe," Severide said extending his hand.
"What the hell took you so long to get here?" hissed Jay ignoring the hand in front of him.
"At Lakeshore, no reception," Kelly said tightly, feeling his face turning hot, his hand now clenched at his side.
"Whatever," said Jay turning to leave, the fireman following close behind.
Shay moved in, yanking her best friend's arm back. "Thanks, Jay," she called, looking toward Erin who was getting up slowly.
"Where are you goin?" Kelly asked shuffling back to Erin, taking an arm in his.
"It's just my neck, babe. I'm fine," she unhooked her arm. "Gonna lay down."
He knew she wasn't fine. He kissed Shay goodnight, watching her reluctantly leave before joining his girl, laying down next to her.
Her eyes were closed, but she wasn't asleep. "Can I hold you?" he asked softly, propping his head up on his hand. He didn't know who needed it more… her or him.
"Please," she said, rolling close to him.
Kelly took her in his arms, feeling the softness of her hair on his chest, pressed against his lips as he kissed her head. He ran his hand down her back rhythmically, trying to stop the shaking that had started with his first touch.
Something had gone down, something that rocked her whole team. Kelly didn't know if he'd ever be ready to hear all of it. One thing he did know… he hated her job at the moment, would give anything if it would just go away, The Intelligence Unit, the team, the whole damn CPD.
Erin was up the next morning as if nothing had happened, her hard exterior back on. The shell that had been cracked one day earlier was back in place.
Kelly emerged from his shower, ruefully thinking about a full shift, leaving her when she surely could use him. He wrapped a towel around his waist to grab a quick cup of coffee.
"Can I make you some tea?" he asked putting both hands on her shoulders from behind. She was pouring two cups.
"You know I like the coffee," she replied turning around, her voice so hoarse it hurt him to hear her speak. "But if it makes you feel better, steep that tea bag, babe," she tried to laugh but the croak that emerged said the neck was hurting.
"God, I don't wanna go," he said honestly, looking at her smile, that cascade of hair failing over her shoulders like the softest brown silk.
"Get your ass to 51," she said softly taking his face in her hands.
"If anything had happened to you," Kelly's voice broke as he brought his head into her shoulder.
"But it didn't, so go," she said swatting him as he turned to get dressed. She was putting on a brave face, one she didn't feel but knew he needed to see.
He dragged himself out of their apartment, Erin never seeing him move so slow. He was meeting Shay at Lakeshore before heading in. Boden said he was dipping into the leave pool with every day off. Two more months and he'd gain a handful of days. Until then, no more sick days unless an emergency. Erin stated this was no emergency.
"How is she?" Shay asked knowing the answer written in the way Kelly's brow was scrunched up, in the way the circles under his eyes indicated no sleep, and in the way his body lacked its usual swagger.
"Hate leavin' her, but you know my sick day status is shit right now."
"Well, let's get some good news on this little one. Then we'll head in and have a Mouch kinda day," Shay smiled optimistically. She stopped at the nurses' station, her bright smile making her a favorite at the hospital.
They didn't have to wait long … a set of familiar faces appeared, an older doctor with a grim look led the way with a young, female doctor following behind.
"Lieutenant, Ms. Shay, good of you to check up on little Abby. I really can't release any information until the father comes back down. He's with his wife right now…" Dr. Arata began, recognizing the pair in front of him.
"No, we get it. Just wanted to make sure she was gonna be okay," Kelly said looking at the two doctors.
"If you leave your information with the nurses, we'll get the okay from dad and give you an update on our little fighter," Dr. Arata suggested hinting that the girl was holding her own.
"Definitely. Thanks, doc." Kelly held out his hand.
The doctor turned to leave, but the younger doctor remained. The familiarity turned to recognition for Shay. She was the woman whose sister died the day of the bombing. Burgess' niece had lived in a large part because this woman's sister had died. Shay had seen her off and on catching tidbits of her story while keeping vigil over her best friend.
"Dr. Thelan. Holly," she said holding out her hand to the paramedic and fireman.
"How are you?" Shay asked. "We met the day of the bombing," she explained. "How are you doing?"
"Better. One day at a time, but better. Yes, I remember you now. Good to see you on your feet," she said glancing at Kelly. "The little girl, Abby Ramirez, is doing well. Remarkable how the body heals, especially in the young. The dad's a sweetheart. He'll have no problems with me giving you an update," she offered knowing she was violating every FERPA law known to man.
"Thanks," said Shay nudging Kelly with an I told you so push. "Thanks for not leaving us hanging," she added.
"Sure thing. Well, I better go," she said stiffly. She started to go then turned around abruptly extending her hand to Kelly, as if remembering to be polite.
He shook it, then Shay. She was awkward for sure, Kelly thought, like the pretty girl in high school who didn't know how pretty she was, focused more on grades and gettin' into college than parties and having fun.
"Dr. Thelan," called Leslie after her. "We're all getting together at Molly's on Friday. It's 51's little hangout, some of us co-own it. Well, anyways, we're all going and you should join us."
"I'll try," said Holly, a bright smile spreading across her face. "I haven't gotten out much," she added, the confession spilling out.
As the friends walked out of the hospital… "What was that all about?" asked Kelly. "She doesn't seem like the goin' out type."
"She seems lonely," answered Shay. "Sad."
"And awkward as hell," Kelly added.
"Be nice. You don't know what she went through the day of the bombing." Shay spilled the story with Kelly shaking his head.
"Makes me feel like a lucky son of a bitch."
"Because you are a lucky SOB. Now, call Erin to check on her, talk to her while I run into Weber's for some donuts."
"Can't we just get some normal shit," Kelly asked, calling Erin, thinking about those weird things Shay brought in last time from her favorite donut shop. Some paprika, pepper thing that almost burned his tongue off when he thought he was bitin' into a good, glazed.
"Just talk to your wife. I'll drive," Shay sped off to the gourmet bakery, glad their save turned into a real save and little Abby was looking like she'd be okay. She was also glad they'd run into Holly. The pretty redhead had all the markings of a lost puppy who needed a new home, or just a friend.
Dr. Thelan was also thinking about the odd pair that came in to check on Abby, couldn't get them out of her mind. The pretty paramedic and the handsome fireman. She wracked her brain remembering little flashes from the day of the bombing, most of her memories of her sister. But in between she recalled the fireman brought in, bad shape… she'd overheard he made it. The blonde had been buzzing around the hospital for days. That was it.
She put the Molly's date in her calendar, looking forward to it more than she'd looked forward to anything in the past year.
I always wondered what they were going to do with Dr. Thelan when all those rumors that a Chicago MD spinoff was in the works. So I've added her to my playground.
Thank you to my "no account" reviewers who make me smile with their reviews that I feel like I need to review because they are AWESOME: RIPLShay, Guests, ErinSeveride, shaylover, Aryal, Jackie,TKFan, EK, Joy, and Lindsay. To my regulars, much love as ALWAYS. Let me know your thoughts... and have a great week.