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Chapter 8
While moving about the kitchen, Nora danced to the songs on her phone, having put they playlist on shuffle. There was a mix of Elvis Presley, some Eminem and just various pop and rock songs from the past decades.
Anita smiled as she saw the young girl jumping behind the counter to Kenny Loggins 'Footloose' and singing along to the lyrics.
"It is good to have you back, darling." the older woman said, looking at the batch of cookies the Captain's niece had already backed.
Grinning from ear to ear, the blonde pushed the full plate towards the firehouse head secretary so that she could get some. "Thank you, I'm glad to be back again. The times I was here were too short to really make me happy. I missed the cooking and backing and on top of that I missed the guys."
"Oh believe me, dear. Everyone missed you, even the Chief." Anita said, winking at her, grabbing one of the cookies and walked back out of the common room.
Breathing in deeply, Nora put the last batch into the oven and smiled as the teams came back from their last call.
"So, what happened?"
Those were the first words that Herrmann's niece asked when she saw them sitting down at the tables and just leaning back.
"Some guy wanted to kill himself, got speared by the fence." Cruz said, when he finally got up to take a look what the young woman had been up to while they had been gone.
He knew from the soft music playing in the background, that she had probably cooked or baked. But once he saw the large plate of homemade cookies, the driver of Truck 81 couldn't help himself.
Joe grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm sorry, but I'm just so glad that you have finally gotten back to the real life. And I'm so glad that you decided to bake."
Laughing softly, the blonde shook her head and put the plate on the round table across the counter so everyone could take some of the cookies.
"You're not the first and you won't be the last to tell me how happy you are that I broke up with Michael. If I didn't know matter I would think you wanted that all the time."
Scratching the back of his head, Herrmann cleared his throat and walked up to his niece, putting his arm around her shoulders and turning her around, so he could talk quietly to her. "Well, I mean I only want you to be happy, but I had a bad feeling the first time I saw that guy coming into the station."
"You could have told me, Uncle C. I didn't want you to feel bad for not being able to tell me how you felt about him."
Kissing her temple, Christopher pulled her closer. "I'm just glad I got my feisty and still sweet niece back, the one that takes my own kids out to hockey games and watches football matches with my comrades."
"I never left you, you know. I'll always be the girl you raised me after dad died."
Feeling the tears sting their eyes, both Herrmann's brushed them away and smiled at one another.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll ask the gentlemen at the Squad table if they'd care for some sweet treats after such a call."
Groaning the guys from Truck shook their heads, as the blonde left the common room with a smaller plate of cookies for Tony, Hadley, Capp and Kelly. "Hey guys, I thought you could use some energy boost today. What you say? You up for some chocolate chip cookies?"
The table erupted in hooting laughter and shouts of 'Hell yes' and Nora couldn't help the giggle that escaped her.
Severide grinned and pulled her next to him on his lap. To everyone else it was a gesture of good friends, as both the Lieutenant and Herrmann's niece had known each other for some time before, when he started at 51, but to Kelly himself it was only a way to try to distract himself from the pain that raked through his shoulder.
Excusing himself, he stood up, grabbed one of the largest cookies on the plate and went to the locker rooms.
"You okay?" Nora asked when she followed him to the common room.
Severide nodded his head, putting his arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, just pinched a nerve on a call. Nothing big."
Not wanting to get into his business, at least for now, the blonde let it slide and watched her friend go, knowing there was nothing she could do right now. Shaking her head, she looked over to the kitchen and saw Mills taking out food from some boxes that hadn't been there when she was alone.
"Hey Peter, can I help you with something?"
The candidate smiled and turned when the side door opened. "Ah no, I'm just doing good on my cooking duty. By the way, this is Elise, my sister." He pointed to the young curly haired woman, putting another grocery box on the counter.
"Hi, it's nice to meet you, I'm Nora."
"Oh, same here. I hope he hasn't given you any troubles." she said, joking, when Mills gave her a disapproving look.
Smiling back at the young woman, the blonde shook her head. "Don't worry. He has behaved himself better than some of the guys around here."
Elise excused herself getting more boxes from the car. Nora turned to the dark skinned candidate and helped him, put the groceries away. "So, how do you like it here? I'm sorry I didn't have more time to talk with you."
"I'm happy here. My father was a firefighter, too, and I want to do good for him."
She knew what it meant for the firemen children. They always wanted to be like their fathers. "You are already doing a pretty good job."
Mills' sister returned with the last box and looked at the two of them. "Those tomatoes are only good for another day or so."
She put it on the counter across from Peter, who was just cutting up some veggies for the late lunch. Just as both women were about to clear the box, the candidate spoke up. Nora knew he had to work at the family diner, helping his mother and sister, but in his heart he was a firefighter.
"Elise, I'm done at the restaurant." His sister looked at him questioningly, "I mean, I cam in late at the beginning of a shift...That ain't gonna happen again."
Feeling the tension between the siblings, Nora took the last groceries and put them in the fridge, walking over to the couch where Pouch had decided to lay down.
"Mom has just gotta deal with it."
His sister turned to him, not really knowing if she should be mad or happy for her brother. "Then tell her."
"Well, I'm going to. But I need you to back me up, okay?"
"I mean, you know what's going on here, right?" Elise scoffed, now really looking at Peter.
"Of course. Why do you think I've been there on every day off? You think I like slinging hash?"
Just then Kelly walked into the common room, winking at Nora who played with the dog of 51 and gave him a soft smile. He, too, could feel the tension between the siblings, but still went over to grab some fruit and was then introduced to Elise. On his way out, the Lieutenant reached over the couch and stroked the dog's ears, making the blonde smile even brighter than before.
"Mom has got to realize that dad loved being a firefighter. And I'm not gonna run from something I want to do with my life just to make her feel better."
Nora could hear the determination in his voice, something only the true firefighters had, that were cut out to be one
"Then reassure her."
"Well, how?"
"I don't know. She's scared. She doesn't want to lose you, too."
Sighing his sister left Peter to get back to his cooking and Herrmann's niece walked up to him. "You know, it's never easy on the family. They will always be scared that someday their loved ones aren't coming back from a call."
"I always looked up to my father. He was a hero."
The blonde put her hands on his shoulders, looking deeply into his sorrowful eyes. "And he will always be one, just like you are going to be one."
"Thanks. For having my back."
Nora winked at the candidate, brushing her hair behind her ears. "I always do that for the new candidates, only not for Otis. He had to take what was given to him, which is why he probably drilled you the first couple of days."
Laughing the pair turned back to the kitchen counters with the groceries, thinking about what they would cook for the teams.
"I didn't know your side job was a restaurant business, Mills." Christopher Herrmann said, when he and the other members of Truck 81 came into the common room, seeing both their candidate and Nora cooking, music softly playing in the background.
Peter was frying up some onions and burgers and Herrmann's niece worked on the veggies for the side dish. "For now. Phasing that out, though."
"I think, you're the only food-related side job we got here, 'cause let's see, we got security guard, construction..." Herrmann said, looking around before turning back to Casey, who grabbed a cup of coffee.
"And what about me? Normally the food is my side-job, too, Uncle C, and I work here, too." Nora said, grinning at the Truck's second in command, who winced softly at her words but didn't say anything else.
"What about you?" Peter asked, when he finally looked up at Herrmann.
"General entrepreneurship." In the background, the blonde snorted and brought over the vegetables for some frying to the counter Mills was standing at. "I was doing pretty good as a day trader, you know, until all the trolls jumped on board and, you know, capsized it for guys like me."
"Oh come on, you just weren't cut out for this."
Giving her a pointed look the Captain leaned closer to their new candidate. "You know, it's funny that you bring it up, Peter Mills because I'm actually circling an investment opportunity that could be massive."
Nora could see Cruz rolling his eyes and sent him a look, before she went around the counter and placed her hands on her uncles shoulders.
"You're not trying to start up another of those funny business deals are you?"
"Course not. I might let you guys get in on it." he said turning back to his comrades.
"Well, what is it?" Cruz asked dealing the cards of their game and the blonde couldn't help the snicker that left her lips.
"Nah. You guys are gonna have to wait 'cause you know I" Christopher shook his head, putting one of his hands on Nora's own, that squeezed his shoulder. "Okay, fine."
With expectant looks, the guys all turned to the Captain and listened as he continued telling about his new business. "Two words...Energy water."
"Oh my god!" his niece exclaimed and turned him to give Herrmann a questioning look. "You gotta"
"Are you kidding me?" Vargas whispered and Nora could even see Matt cracking a smile.
But then, the object of her momentary hate walked up to them, telling the guys that one Greg Duffy was out in the bay waiting for them as they were the ones that responded to the car accident he was into.
Casey and the rest of the guys made their way out of the common room and Nora followed a few feet behind them. She could see a middle aged man in a checkered dress shirt standing there by the Squad table, his face still bearing the scraps from the accident.
Matt went over, greeting him with a hand shake.
"Sorry to barge in on you like this, but my wife made this for you guys." he apologized and pointed at the cake that was placed carefully on the table, lifting the cover. "We really appreciate what you did. And we know damn well it could have been worse, if the car had tipped over. So...Thank you."
Everyone of them gave him a somber look, appreciating his thanks and reassuring him that it was what they did.
"How's your son?"
So far, the Truck Lieutenant had let anyone know what was going on, that the boy was paralyzed from the waist down and would be bound to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, but now hearing it from the father had broken Nora's heart for the family a whole lot more than she would have thought.
"Yeah...Well, you know, Mikey's got a tough road ahead of him, but we're gonna make it. We're gonna be all right."
Swallowing, she could feel the tension in the bay, knowing that how Matt really felt about this whole mess.
"The other reason I came here is, I don't know if there's anything you guys do in terms of what you see or piece together based on what the accident scene looked like but the police report came back saying I ran a red light, causing the accident. And, ah, that's...That's not what happened."
Knowing the truth behind the accident, the anger rolled in waves off of Casey and Herrmann's niece could feel it even from further away. He had told his team about the son of Detective Voight and that it was him that caused the accident.
"And I'm kind of at a loss in terms of how to fight it."
Matt looked between the father and the Chief and Nora took the opportunity to walk up to Greg.
"Hi, Mr. Duffy. I'm Nora, Christopher Herrmann's niece. I know this is a hard time for you, but would you like to come inside and sit with us. Then you can talk to the Lieutenant about how we're going to help you. We even have coffee, if you want." she told him with a smile and the man 51 rescued only a few days prior returned it. The father nodded his head and followed the blonde. "If you ever want Mikey to get out, let me know. I work with Chaplain Orlovsky sometimes and we go see hockey matches with some of the CFD Kids or just visit the zoo."
In that moment, Herrmann could feel his heart swell with pride. He knew Nora had a big heart no matter how old or how small and she helped the Chaplain just to see the other kids smile again. Some of the children she took out every second weekend were either mentally or physically disabled, but to her it didn't make a difference. Even his own kids went with their cousin to tour with the group.
"That sounds wonderful, Ms. Herrmann. I will let my son know that he always is welcome in your company."
Smiling, the blonde gripped Greg's hand tightly, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Always."
Walking over, she saw her uncle nodding his head in approval and she knew she had done the right thing.
"Ah, Chief? Sorry to bother you, I just wanted to know if you could look this over?" Nora asked walking into his office, seeing Boden talking to a man, she assumed to be Nicki's father as they just talked about her.
"No worries, Nora. Al, this is Nora, Christopher Herrmann's niece. She sometimes cooks for Firehouse 51 and helps us with some things." he said and then turned back to the blonde again. "What is it, you needed?"
"Chaplain Orlovsky wanted to know if we could get some gear that is not needed right now, like helmets and turnouts. We wanted the kids to dress up and have some fun, you know taking pictures and such."
Shrugging his broad shoulders, Wallace nodded his head. "Sure, just got to the equipment room and get what you need, there should be at least five turnouts and helmets."
"Great, thanks Chief. It was nice to meet you, Mr. Rutkowski."
Nora left the office and walked back out to the bay, seeing Capp, Hadley and Tony sitting at their table, but no Kelly. She went over to the door of the Turnout Gear Room and punched in the code. Just before she went in, Capp cleared his throat.
"Ugh, you might wanna wait before you get in there."
The young woman turned back to him and gave him a questioning stare. "Why? I just need to get some turnouts and helmets. It's not as if someone's in there."
With that, she opened the door and went inside. Looking through all the turnouts and helmets she hoped, she would find some in a decent size, when she heard moaning from the back of the room. Nora knew it wasn't her business, but being the ever curious child of the Herrmann family, she went to investigate.
Holding back a gasp, she could feel her eyes widen. There was Kelly, bare chested with a nearly equally undressed Nicki, making out between the isles of turnout gear. At that moment she didn't exactly know what to feel.
Nora always had had a crush on Severide, ever since she met him on her first day visiting the firehouse with her uncle. But she always felt her heart crumble a little more whenever the Lieutenant was with a different woman.
Scowling, she crossed her arms over her chest and cleared her throat, making the two of them stop mid kissing and turn their heads toward the intruder.
Kelly felt his own eyes bulge when he saw Herrmann's niece standing there, a dark look on her face and her eyes shining.
"I think you should leave, Nicki, your father is outside with the Chief looking for you." she said, looking at the two of them, lips swollen and the brunette's hair askew from Severides hands running through her brown locks constantly. "And a word of advice. Leave Kelly alone, it's not gonna work out anyway."
Cursing, Nicki dressed hastily and left the room without a second glance at her recent conquest.
"Nora"
"Are you taking your lays to the firehouse now, too, Severide?" the blonde spat at him, her words venomous. "At least be more discreet about it."
With that she, too, left him standing there, cursing his own stupidiy. Kelly pulled his shirt over his head and made his own way out of the room, seeing Nicki's father standing there in the bay. He nodded and sat down next to his comrades.
"What did you do, Severide?" Hadley angrily whispered at him. He had seen Nora leave the room, stomping back to the common room, a tear falling from her eyes.
"Nothing. I just...I had some fun. Now leave it."
Outside he seemed to keep his cool, being who he was all the time, a womanizer, but inside Kelly felt a turmoil, knowing he had hurt his one best friend beside Shay.
Deciding he needed to talk to Nora, the Lieutenant got back up and went toward his office, knowing the blonde would maybe be at her uncle's bunk and shut out the world again, like she always did, when she was angry or sad. On the way there he met Leslie.
"Hey, I need to talk to you. Hey."
He turned to her, pointing back to the offices. "That girl is in serious heat and I'm not Gandhi." he said without thinking, but winced at the scowl Shay gave him.
"What? No. About your arm. Here." she said and gave him a card.
"What's this?"
Leslie looked at him, knowing he needed a push in the right direction. "A friend or mine. I gave her a heads up."
Kelly thanked her, stuffing the card in his back pocket and decided to maybe call her, but just maybe.
"Yeah, your appointment's after shift. You said you were gonna get your arm looked at."
"I know. I am. I will. I...I am."
Sighing the blonde paramedic knew, her friend wouldn't go through with it. "Okay, so, I basically feel like you've been lying to me in order to get pain killers, and that's not really a quality I look for in a friend and roommate."
"Part of me doesn't want to know." he told her, not wanting to risk another one of his friendships today.
"I get it. Of course. But the consultation's off the books. Just you and I will know. And we'll figure it out." she said, hoping her friend would finally see reason.
Giving in, the Lieutenant saw Leslie nodding her head and start to leave, but he stopped her. "Uh, have you seen Nora around?"
"Why? What did you do?"
Shooting her a questioning look, Kelly raised his hands. "Why did I have to do anything when I'm just looking for her?"
"Because I just saw her storm through the firehouse and out the back. Don't know what she's doing, but she's pissed and wants to be left alone."
Leaving him standing there, Shay went back to the common room. Severide rubbed his fingers along his stubbly jaw, not sure what to do about his current situation. He knew he was at fault for giving in to Nicki's advances, but he thought he would never end up with Nora, so why should he still feel his own heart ache.
With a sigh he opened the back door and found the blonde sitting in one of the deckchairs, her knees drawn up and her head turned away from him.
"Leslie told me, you were out here." he started not knowing what to really say to her. "Can we talk about it. I'd like to apologize."
Still Herrmann's niece didn't turn around and Kelly got fed up with her little display, his temper rising faster than it did before everything that had happened. "You could at least look at me, when I'm talking to you."
"Why should I?" Finally a sign that she was still alive. "You only had eyes for the leggy secretary that you wanted to screw before. Oh and I forgot the other girls you had and will have. I mean, is there even one girl in Chicago you haven't slept with?"
By now, Nora had stood up from the chair, her own temper rising with every word she threw at him.
"Oh come on, there are plenty or women out there I haven't screwed." Kelly said, slightly proud about the fact he still had a few to go.
"Oh really? Is it like this? Do you have some kind of list going like 'A hundred things to do before I die' and on top there's 'Screw as many women as you can'? Because right now you're nothing but a man whore and womanizer. You don't even see the people that have feelings for you." she ranted, pacing on the concrete, her feet bare of socks.
The Lieutenant was slightly taken aback by her words, not knowing the real meaning behind it. "W-What are you saying?"
Taking a deep breath, the blonde brushed the few strands out of her face that had fallen into her eyes and looked at her friend. Even though it hurt deeply how he acted around other women, she couldn't find it in her heart to shut him out. "I-Ah forget it. Just leave me alone, Kelly."
"Nora, come on. You know me."
"Yeah, I do Kelly. Shay and me helped you up again, when Renée screwed you over with that other guy. I was there for you guys after Darden's death, when you really needed me. I-I'm not really sure what I'm feeling, because right now all I feel is hurt and betrayal. I thought Michael was an asshole, but I'm not sure if you aren't in the same boat with him."
She didn't want to hear any excuses coming from him, when he opened his mouth, so she left him, standing alone in the back of the firehouse, pondering on her words.
When Kelly got to the deeper meaning of her tirade, he cursed, inside and out, and rand after her, hoping to catch up the the Captain's niece, but he was already to late, when she pulled away from the curb, waving at her uncle and the rest of 51 with a soft smile on her face.
"Shit." he cursed, running his hands through his hair. This time he really fucked it up. Big time.
"You slept with the secretary, right?" Shay said angrily, when she came up to him and even though her roomie didn't say anything, she knew she was right and that was why Nora was so pissed at Kelly.
Herrmann's niece had once made a drunken confession when Gaby, Nora and her were out at a disco downtown, just enjoying the time together and having fun. She trusted the paramedics with her secret crush on Severide and they never told anyone, not even the Squad Lieutenant himself. The only thing they saw, was the hurt look, whenever he went after a girl that wasn't Nora.
"You gotta make it up to her, buddy. Big, big time."