I keep saying it, but here I go again - Thank you so much for the reviews! This is my most commented on story, and I'm not gonna lie… it feels awesome! Because of all the love I've been feeling from my readers, here's a little love from me.
Those without an account - EK, Guests, Aryal, TKFan, shaylover, ErinSeveride, RIPShay, and Jackie (can't have you bored today) - you make me smile, thank you! Those with an account, you know how I feel! Hope you enjoy this freshly written, unscheduled side trip in Linserideland.
"So, we're good right? I'm outta trouble?" Kelly asked only partially teasing, as he poured two cups of coffee.
"I'm going fishing aren't I?" Erin answered with a question, not really answering. She shook her head thinking she'd gone completely insane. Fishing. Fly fishing.
"Yeah, you are," Kelly grinned, placing a coffee cup in front of his wife, kissing her on the cheek.
Erin stifled a small laugh looking at that damn enthusiasm. He talked about fishing like it was a change your life experience, "somethin' you'll wanna do again and again." She could think of a few things she'd want to do again and again that included Kelly, fishing not one of them.
Severide rented a small cabin on the Kankakee, a hop, skip, and jump from Chicago. A quick overnight trip … one he sensed Erin needed, they needed. The fishing idea came to him on shift, talking to Benny.
"Take her fishin.' It'll clear her head, bring her back to center," the older Severide insisted in usual "father knows best" fashion.
This time, Kelly couldn't argue. He did what dad said.
As they pulled up to the small cabin, both were brought back to their last getaway that ended with vows promising to love each other for the rest of their lives. Kelly grabbed one of Erin's hands and kissed it softly as he pulled up to the cute, tiny log structure.
"I love you, husband," Erin said, leaning over, kissing the fireman on the cheek.
"Love you, wife," Kelly replied, stretching to her, his lips meeting hers. "Wanna go in, check it out? I'll unload all my crap."
"I'll help you. Then we'll check it out together," she insisted, pulling away and jumping out of the car.
"Okay, boss," Kelly chuckled, racing to the heaviest bag before she could snatch it. He grabbed the large duffel bag with all their stuff shoved in it, letting Erin get the smaller fishing gear.
Kelly fumbled with the old lock before finally coaxing or cussing it open.
"I love it," Erin said, taking in the tiny cabin that was a miniature version of "their" cabin. Perfect. This fishing thing was gonna turn out okay, she thought taking in the charm of this place in the woods.
By the time they unpacked all the gear, the long boots, the immense amounts of fly fishing supplies, it was early evening, a golden sunset filling up the horizon. The couple sat hand in hand on an old wooden swing hanging on the front porch, watching the brightness dim as evening was settling in. A rumble in Kelly's stomach sent him into the cabin, nodding at his wife to follow.
"When you fish, you only eat what you catch, but I'm breakin' that rule since we haven't fished yet," Kelly winked at Erin, finding a cast iron pan in the cabinets.
"Well thanks for bending the fishing rules and feeding me tonight," Erin teased, dimples running deep with the smile affixed to her face.
Kelly ripped open a pack of hot dogs, Erin's eyebrows raising in doubt. "Don't thank me yet," he replied slyly, chopping up the beef franks, throwing in this and that. Erin thought she saw some eggs go in the pan.
He plated it up, a huge pile of something landing in front of her. She dug in.
"What the hell is this? You can cook, Severide!" Erin giggled, taking another bite.
"Hey, watchit now! Benny didn't teach me much, but fishin' and makin' this mess… those are two things he set me straight on."
"Remind me to thank him," Erin replied, mouth stuffed full.
"Uh, you can thank me later," Kelly suggested, that mischievous glint in his eye.
"Just eat," Erin retorted laughing.
They were snuggled on the couch, staring at the flames in the fireplace dance, casting shadows around the dark room. Erin had a cup of tea in front of her, Severide nursing a beer.
"You tired?" asked Kelly knowing it was getting late, they both should be yawning. He had an arm around his girl, her head pressed into his chest, so warm, so perfect.
"Nope," Erin answered looking up at the beautiful eyes staring down at her. She knew what was coming next, didn't have to wait long before her husband cleared his throat to speak.
"I know I'm not the best at talkin' but do you wanna talk about what went on at Molly's? It's been eatin' at me, and I'm pretty sure you ain't completely over it."
No, not the "let's go to the bedroom" Erin was expecting.
"Sure, we can talk Kelly, but there's not much to say. You got drunk, acted the fool, let that woman touch you all over. It's done." Erin shifted her weight slightly, her head not leaving her husband's chest.
She's still pissed, thought Kelly, now glad he brought all this back up to the surface. It had to be put to rest.
"Erin, I'm sorry I got so lit. I am, but as far as Holly goes… she is nothin' to me and her hands did not touch me all over. I was drunk, but I'm pretty sure I'd remember that."
Erin laughed looking up at her husband now. "So you think you're funny?" she asked, mouth in an open grin.
"Seriously, I ain't goin' anywhere, ever. You are it. You've always been it for me. You got nothin' to worry about," Kelly said, growing serious, pulling her in tighter as if to emphasize his words.
"I know that. I do. In my heart. I trust you, Kel. I just, just," Erin searched for the right words, "I don't trust all the women out there, and when you act like that… you're asking for trouble." The dumbfounded look on her man's face made her laugh out loud, adding to Kelly's confusion. He truly did not have a clue that his "friendliness" could ever be misinterpreted.
"There aren't any other women out there. Get that through your crazy, thick skull. I got more than my share of women in my life…between you and Shay…"
"Shut up and kiss me," Erin said pressing her lips to Kelly's before he could comply. "We're good. I promise," she insisted, owning up to the fact that the issue was more with her than him.
Kelly knew they were good. Better than good and Erin was getting back to her center.
"Who's ready for fishing?" whispered Kelly, kissing Erin on the back of the head.
"What time is it? Is it even morning?" asked Lindsay, cracking one eye, hair covering the other eye. The dark of the room told her it was not any kind of hour to be rising and shining.
"Yes, it's morning. 5:30. Fish are biting," Kelly prodded, nudging her to get up.
"Go away," she muttered pulling the sheet over her head.
"Never. Now wake up detective. We've only got one day." Kelly got up to fill his two thermoses with coffee. It looked like a two thermos morning for his woman.
"Uhh, oh God." Erin was talking to herself as she slipped on her jeans, socks, fresh T-shirt. She brushed her hair back in a lumpy ponytail heading to the bathroom. She emerged fresh faced in a couple of minutes.
"How do you look so damn beautiful all the time?" Kelly inquired, handing her a cup of coffee, staring at those hazel eyes in disbelief.
"You look pretty good yourself, hero," Erin said, admiring the way Kelly's Henley hugged his shoulders, his arms. "You gonna teach me to fish or what?"
After a brief lesson on dry land, Kelly led the cop into the shallow water, both wearing waders, Columbia fishing shirts over long sleeve T's, and fly fishing vests. Erin's new gear a gift from her over eager husband. She felt ridiculous but played along, truly enjoying the excitement in Kelly's eyes. The things you do for love, she thought grinning. She was pretty sure his excitement could be felt under water and was currently scaring off all the fish.
They headed out, Erin holding one of Kelly's hands, the other hand with a firm grip on her pole.
When she taught Kelly how to shoot a small firearm at the range, her competitive juices were flowing, wanting to show how damn good she was. Her confidence had oozed out of every pore and Kelly soaked it up, showing her how much he loved what a badass she was holding a gun. He definitely showed her when they made it home and up to the bedroom.
Now, she felt like a fish out of water, she thought smiling at her own joke.
"Glad you're likin' the feel of the water," said Kelly, making her smile wider.
"Okay, now watch me. It's all in the flick of the wrist," he instructed showing her the drag and pull, the rhythmic motion he'd had years to perfect. "Feel it, let it guide you," he added.
Erin flung her pole back jerkily, not feeling anything guiding her. She threw the pole forward watching the line head straight into a clump of bushes by the river bank.
"That's okay, it's okay. I'll just get it out of here…" Kelly encouraged, fighting with the line caught up in a mass of dried, half dead branches. Eventually, he cut the line and set up her fly again, saying it was no big deal. His vest held all the secrets of the day, many, many secrets. He would have to go in it to fix her line, reel, and retrieve new flies more times than he thought he had in all his years of fly fishing.
"I think I'm getting the hang of it," said Erin, thrilled when her fly headed in front of her for once. She pulled it back, getting the pattern of it, feeling it a little.
"You got it! Good girl!" Kelly whooped and hollered as if she caught a fish.
She brought the line back in, steadying her pole to launch it back out there and catch something this time. As she reared her pole back, she pointed it in Kelly's direction, catching his vest with her fly. She pulled forward, snapping her wrist like he showed her, pulling his vest and him forward a little. He was caught off balance, stepping on a rock and losing his footing. An arm instinctively reached out for anything to grab hold of, finding Erin's sleeve.
They both splashed in the shallow water with Erin being brought down on top of Kelly. The initial cold had them gasping with the shock to the system.
Erin was spread out across her man, both soaked through, neither one moving.
A roar of laughter came from the small brunette, erupting out of nowhere, now an uncontrollable force in Severide's wet face. She couldn't stop, laughing harder and harder… "I – did – this!" she sputtered out, unable to move.
Kelly was cracking up now… "Yeah, you did this," he chuckled, moving from underneath Erin. He threw her over his shoulder, grabbing for the two poles, and trudging back to the shore.
Erin thought she was done laughing, and a whole new outburst would rise up, just picturing Kelly's face as he was going down. Priceless. Hilarious.
He kicked off his waders, dropping the poles to the side of the porch, Erin still slung over his shoulder. He could feel the jerky convulsions of her laughter rising and falling… "You okay up there?" he asked, eyeballing her, questioning her sanity.
She couldn't answer, a snort breaking out instead of coherent speech.
Kelly plopped her on the sofa, taking off his clothes quickly, grabbing two towels from the bathroom. He turned on the shower, glad to see Erin moving now, tugging at her uncooperative, wet jeans.
"I can help you with that," he offered, glancing innocently at the panties peeking out.
"You can?" Erin asked with equal innocence, laughter dying on her lips as she wet them in anticipation.
He rushed her like an outside linebacker, but picked her up with a gentleness she expected and loved. Kelly had her back on his shoulder, carrying her into the shower. The warm water enveloping the couple, pulling the cold of the river out of their bodies.
Erin's mouth found her husband's chest working its way back up to his waiting mouth.
"God, I love you," he said between kisses, eyes closing then opening, wanting to take in all of her.
"I love you," Erin said, pushing her mouth in harder, now trailing down his neck, causing a deep moan to escape his lips.
"But fishing is something I'm never going to wanna do again and again," she whispered remembering his words at the start of their trip, gently running her tongue along his ear, teasing it mercilessly.
"Never again," he mumbled, her mouth causing every part of his body to come alive.
"But this..." Erin forced the words out between deep breaths of desire filling her lungs, her body, "this I'm gonna want again and again."
The primal sound Kelly made said he agreed, wholeheartedly agreed, with every fiber of his being. It told Erin everything she needed to hear, all she would ever need to hear.
Hope this was an enjoyable Saturday surprise, my friends. Have a great rest of the weekend! Go out and make it a good one!