Thanks to all my regulars and new readers for the love and reviews! This one's been hard to keep going with Haas putting a nail in the Linseride coffin every chance he gets. Trying to stay inspired with my favorite couple. Hope you enjoy this one!

The search for Kayla began the next day with Erin and Voight charging in and through every lead, breaking down doors, and barreling over any seemed that by some snag in the system, the brother and sister had been split up and even given different social workers. Mrs. Sandoval didn't know a sister existed.

"You have got to be kidding me," she sighed when Erin told her about Kayla. "And another reason this is the most frustrating job on the planet." The red tape, the utter chaos, all in what seemed like a deterrent to actually helping kids was getting to the DCFS veteran. If a couple like the Severides couldn't just adopt Javier, was being made to jump through hoops to foster him, then there was something seriously wrong with this system she'd been working for 15 years.

A deep feeling of unease that she couldn't quite name washed over Erin. Kayla, we're coming for you she thought more determined than ever to make this a quick search and rescue.

In about two hours, they discovered that she wasn't lost in some foster home although the paperwork pointed in that direction. A Voight interrogation at the girl's last stop revealed she had been gone for some time. Those checks were still rolling in so the couple kept mum on the little girl who was swooped up in the dead of the night by someone claiming to be her mother. Erin was relieved the eleven-year-old wasn't out on the streets. She was with her mom. That couldn't be as bad as living on the streets, she thought. A new fear rose from inside as thoughts drifted to her own mom.

"We've gotta find her, Hank," she said as they hopped in his car.

"We will, kid. Promise," he answered running a quick hand along her arm.

'You've gotta come in, the guys need to see you, Kel," Shay whined using everything she had, the wide eyes, the smile, the years of friendship and favors stored dropped by the apartment, "in the neighborhood" she claimed. Now she was standing a few feet away from her friend, body pointing toward the door, ready to lead the way out.

Kelly sat in a dining room chair, a mountain of pills waiting to be taken.

He didn't want to go in, didn't want the guys seeing him like this. But there was a tiny voice screaming at him saying he'd been away too long, he needed to make sure everything was running smoothly. He secretly wanted to see that things weren't going so well, that they still needed him.

"I'm not ready," he said firmly, not giving any wiggle room for arguing. At least not with anyone else. Shay was not ready to give in.

She thrust a bagel in his face as a sort of bribe. "Well, I think you are. I know you are. You've been miserable, J's the only one who can get a smile out of you. I miss that smile… C'mon…" she pleaded, a huge smile spreading on her face. She knew she was losing, but not throwing in the towel yet.

"Give it up," he said taking a bite.

"Because you want to just stay in. Again. Like you do every day?" Shay's shift in tone wasn't lost on her best friend.

"I can't drive, still. So, yeah, Shay, I'm stayin' in. Again." Kelly's eyes narrowed as he waited for the response. Somewhere in that thick skull he knew she was pressing out of love or some misguided attempt to cheer him up.

"Well, why don't you just let us wheel you up to the home and drop you off then?" Shay's arms were crossed and face set in that I'm not backing down look.

"Shay," Kelly started in protest. "Shay," he repeated voice almost inaudible.

"Kel. It's gonna be alright," Leslie unfolded her arms taking the two steps toward her friend. "It is." She took Kelly's face in her hands, bringing him in tight, trying to squeeze some belief in there. She felt a tightening in her stomach thinking she knew what his answer was going to be.

"Dammit," he sighed. "Let's go."

They pulled up to a small crowd gathered for the lieutenant, a sea of smiles and light pats awaiting. Kelly stepped uneasily away from his best friend to greet his 51 family.

"Well it's about time you showed up," Hermann enthused, punching Kelly on the arm. "Ugly runs this place like a damn beauty shop. Your guys are getting soft," he whispered with a conspiratorial tone.

"You do know I'm right here?" asked Clarke surprised to see his friend show up. He'd been trying for weeks to drag his ass in to no avail. He knew he didn't have the pull of the blonde by Severide's side, no one would have that leverage. Something about those two.

Another blonde came to the front... "Hey buddy," Casey said bringing Kelly into a hug. "You good?" he asked.

"All good," Severide said a little too quickly. "Yep, all good."

"I need your ear later, if you don't mind," Matt said in a hushed tone.

"Ah, hell. That doesn't sound good," Kelly laughed knowing it had something to do with his friend's fiancee and all those spiraling out of control wedding plans.

Severide settled in, briefly scanning his truck, his table, his equipment. He walked over to the back, spying one of his rescue saws on a table in disarray, someone had been piecing the thing back together. He inched closer to it running his hand along the handle.

"Don't you worry about that lieutenant. I'll have that thing running before you even make it back," Mills said with the eagerness of a puppy.

Clarke shot him a look.

"I mean, it's fixed… uh, just gotta put it back together. So it'll be done and good as new tomorrow," Pete muttered, words tumbling out of his mouth. "Not that you're not coming back… uh, I mean soon. Just didn't think you were comin' back by tomorrow," he nervously laughed.

Everyone just stared at the young squad member.

"Nope, Mills. I ain't comin' back tomorrow," Kelly broke the silence, laughing, patting him on the back. "So are we gonna eat or what?" he asked walking in toward the dining room.

Lunch was filled with the chatter of competing voices, Hermann bragging about his latest season of coaching exploits, berating Kelly for not signing J.P. up for hockey.

"Hey, the kid has an arm. I'm just sayin' that for bein' so little, he can throw," Severide perked up considerably while talking about the young boy.

"Okay, dad, calm down," Hermann teased. "We all think we got the latest Verlander…"

Truck 81, Ambulance 61, Squad 3…

The familiar call that seemed like a dream rang out, a pounding of boots, piling on of gear, and shuffling in trucks clattered throughout. Kelly wanted nothing more than to jump into one of those trucks, to feel the heat of a fire on his face.

The sounds of hustle and bustle gave way to the sound of… nothingness. An almost empty house with Kelly sitting at the dining room table, pushing his food around with a fork. His eyes grew darker before Shay's own eyes. This was a bad idea, she thought.

The only thought in Kelly's head was one of life going on, people moving forward… of his house not needing him. His squad doing just fine without him. Better than fine.

"What do you mean you can't find her?" Kelly asked, angry that a system put in place to help kids had lost one. Angry at much more than that.

"Can you keep your voice down," Erin hissed knowing little ears were listening. "I don't want J.P. worrying."

The screaming match continued with Kelly finally storming off to J.P.'s room, laying on the floor beside the little boy's bed.

"You awake?" he whispered, knowing the answer.

"Uh huh."

"We're gonna find your sister. I promise you, bud. You believe me?" Kelly asked, rolling on his side. J.P.'s face hung over the side of his bed now.

"Yes, sir," the little boy answered, his large brown eyes rimmed in red.

"Go to sleep now and try not to worry," Kelly commanded, rolling back over, knowing worry was this kid's middle name. His night was another restless dance of rolling one way, then the other, trying to find some position that would stop the incessant pain in his neck. That pain that was becoming Kelly's enemy, one he couldn't shake. He knew he was in trouble when he didn't remember what it felt like to have that enemy gone, to feel good and strong. To feel like himself.

He dozed off and on, finally getting a couple hours of sleep, waking early with a sweaty little body next to his and a small hand resting lightly on his shoulder. He couldn't help but smile looking at the boy on the floor next to him, the shock of black hair still neatly in place. He thought about picking him up but settled on covering J.P. with the comforter before heading into his bedroom.

"It's about time," whispered Erin as he eased into bed.

"Sorry, babe. I was an ass," Kelly admitted, kissing her on the forehead, smoothing the back of her hair.

"No argument on that one," she answered hoarsely, sleep evading her as well.

Kelly smiled, feeling her bare legs now swung over his, her hand running up his arm, landing on his cheek.

"I'll find her," Erin said.

"I know you will." He kissed her again, letting his tongue run along the corners of her mouth. "Now go to sleep. You've gotta work tomorrow."

"Not goin' in. Figured I'd go get that damn girl, could use your help, hero," she said, running her hand along his chest.

Kelly caught her hand in his, moving it lower. "Whatever you want," he said, eyes closed.

"I want a lot," she rasped out, her hand feeling that she wasn't alone in that.

Erin rolled on top of her fireman, straddling him, pinning his arms in her hands. He tried to push her over, to get to work, a work he loved.

"No," Erin resisted, staying on her man. She'd gotten the text from Shay after the blow out, her frustration giving way to an understanding.

"You know I need you, right?" Erin asked, running her tongue along Kelly's neck, ending in a kiss on his chest.

"Mmmm," he moaned. thoughts of the guys at 51 trying to fall away. The only thought was of the woman on top of him, of how much he needed her. The unspoken words of that need expressed in the transparent emotion flitting across his face. The face that Erin could read so well.

"So you couldn't have dirtied up the truck a bit? I don't know, given him something to fix?" Cally asked, hurriedly running her hand through her hair, brush nowhere to be found.

"If I would've had a head's up, I coulda made the place look like hell. But Shay shows up outta the blue…called fifteen minutes before..." Clarke answered pouring two cups of coffee, one in a to-go mug.

"We know you run a tight ship, cowboy, but I don't know, kick over a hose," Cally laughed, taking her cup, kissing her man on the cheek.

"Those don't really kick over," Jeff replied, grabbing her around the waist.

"Tangle it, whatever." Cailin took in those blue eyes, drawing in a deep breath. "Gotta go, Jeff," she said reluctantly.

"Dead kid drama?" he asked, taking in his own breath.

"On hold. I'm off the clock today, helping Erin track down J.P.'s sister. We're dragging Severide around with us," she added, topping off her cup. "Should be fun," she said, a joyless smirk on her face.

"Hmm," Clarke grew quiet.

"What? Spill it."

"You need to find that girl, babe," he began slowly. Cally raised a knowing eyebrow. "And the more Severide thinks he helped, the better." Jeff said finally.

"And that is why we are dragging his ass with us. All because you couldn't tangle a hose," she teased, letting him take her back in his arms.

"Be gentle, he's not himself." Clarke kissed her firmly on the mouth.

"He hasn't been himself for a while… and Severide and I do not do gentle," she snorted, pushing away again, another Erin text coming in. Tough love, that was what he needed. No more Erin kid gloves. Cally was bound and determined to get Kelly back on track if she had to drag him that last mile herself.

"Kiss me, Marine. I love you. Be safe." She was already on the phone, texting, muttering something on her way out..

"Love you," Clarke called after her.

"Who would've thought tracking down a crack whore would take all day," grumbled Cally, fielding a text from Ruzek, another lead.

"What if Kayla's not even with her mom. What's the next plan of attack?" asked Kelly, used to seeing three exits out of a situation, a burning building, a submerged car.

"She's with her," Erin stated flatly as they rolled up to a dilapidated high rise in Englewood, a project some fire stations wouldn't enter willingly, one that Chicago's finest wouldn't go into without backup. Erin spied the building that looked like a tower of drugs, guns, and gangs, thinking of all those steps waiting for the trio.

"You two stay here. I'll take a look and radio if I get a hit," the brunette said, opening her door.

"Bullshit," Kelly answered opening his door.

"I'll go up and you two lovebirds can argue it out," Cally stated joining her friends outside the car.

"No, I need you to make sure this one stays put," Erin said to Cailin, the pleading look in her eyes not lost on the blonde.

Kelly's face contorted in a grimace of pain also not lost on Cally. "You are not making it up those stairs," she told him shaking her head. "I'm on babysitting duty. Erin, find out if she's there and get out."

"Wasn't planning on lunching with the ladies," Lindsay replied, dimpled grin on her face.

"Such a ray of freaking sunshine Callahan," Kelly mumbled, leaning against the car.

"Spreading those rays, hero. And it's Clarke," she corrected, joining him against the car.

They waited a good five minutes that felt more like forty to the fireman. "How long are we just sittin' here?"

"She just said she's up on three, you wanna head over? We should make it to the door by the time she heads back down."

"Why are you ridin' my ass today, Cally? Did Clarke say somethin' to you?" Kelly asked, narrow eyes flashing a familiar anger. He began shuffling down the walkway toward the building.

"No. I just think it's time to finish this thing. Quit moping around and recover already. Turn that corner and do it, Kelly. We all know you can," Cailin tried softening the blow a little at the end.

The beginnings of anger were now dancing alive in those piercing blue eyes. "You think I wanna be like this?" he yelled. "I'm doing everything they tell me to. I haven't missed one PT session, not one!" They were heading up the flight of stairs, Kelly two handing it on the railing.

"Wanna know what I've gotten from all that PT?" he yelled again, turning to Cally who was behind him wondering if she had enough weight or strength to catch him if he fell. "Not a damn thing! I'm right where I started." He stopped abruptly sliding down to sit on on a step.

"Just hurt all the time," his voice trailing off, the fire gone. Cally didn't realize she'd been holding her breath as a certain degree of guilt washed over her. She sat next to him cursing herself for not listening to Jeff. Why do I not listen to that man 100 percent of the time?

In his eyes was a sadness and fear that did not say Kelly Severide. He was slumped over, head dropped in his hands. Cailin dropped an arm awkwardly around his shoulders.

"Don't," he said swinging it off.

Pop!

One shot rang out from their destination floor, the one Erin was on right now. Cally flew up the stairs, a fireman hot on her heels.

"Quit eating so damn much girl! You gotta get rid of all that baby fat. You're thick. Danny, you think she's thick, right?" Wendy asked swatting her daughter on the rear as she scurried by.

"Nah, she's just right. Gotta keep that ripe ass. They like 'em with ass," the younger man answered as he looked through the barrel of his gun, a cheap .22 he traded one of his "girls" for. He licked his lips as the young girl rushed by, dollar store notebook clutched to her chest. Yes, she was gonna be a moneymaker, he thought, smiling. That dark hair, big beautiful eyes, still too young. But that was one thing none of them could outrun. Time. Her chest would hopefully fill out in the next year, she'd lose some of the chubby in her cheeks, and they'd be lining up outside the door.

It was really the only reason he kept the crack whore of a mom around. Wendy. Piece of work. Offering up anything and everything to suck on that crack pipe. Even her only daughter. Wendy, who looked 40 while her driver's license proclaimed 29. Wendy, this one having no connection to Neverland, no tie to anything except the drug she craved every waking moment, every sleeping moment.

"Kayla, come here baby," Danny called, stretching a skinny white arm in the direction of the girl.

She took a hesitant step toward the man who could be friendly charm one minute, violent and venomous the next. "Come here baby girl," he said, his brown teeth showing years of drug use and neglect.

Kayla froze in place, nervously pushing the mane of dark wavy hair out of her eyes, pressing her notebook tighter to her chest.

"Get your ass over there! Vamanos!" Wendy screamed between hits on the pipe."Her dad was the same way. Slow as shit. That huge family and not one of 'em could help us out when he left us." She mumbled something inaudible, fading away into the ecstasy she called home.

The gun went off without warning, bullet planting itself innocuously in the dingy wall by the patio window. Wendy laughed hysterically, finding the accidental shot hilarious. Danny joining in once he saw Kayla was in one piece.

"Chicago PD! Open up!" Erin pounded on the door, trying the knob. Locked. "Open up, now!" She shuffled back to a darkened recess of a wall that once held a vending and ice machine, now just giving off the smell of urine. She was on the radio calling in the cavalry, hoping Cailin and Kelly heard nothing, would stay in her car. Her fears escalated when Cally popped up by her side.

"You okay? Almost didn't see you back here," Cailin asked breathlessly. "Someone take a shot at you?"

"No, it went off inside. I feel like she's in there," Erin answered, eyes going from the door to the stairwell. "Where's Kelly?" she asked.

"He was right behind me." Cailin had felt him brush up against her shoulder, didn't notice when he took a left as she took a right, didn't see as he smiled and flirted his way into the apartment next door.

Kelly was perched on the outside railing of the adjacent patio, surveying the jump, telling himself it was more of a step than an actual jump. He let go, throwing himself onto the metal bars in front of him, clearing it easily. He hopped over, crouching down to peer inside the sliding glass door.

Always the hero, you know? But that's why we love him. What do you think?