Tw for abuse. It is only mentioned at the end. I decided to go more in-depth into the whole story with Carver's brother because it is something that I went through and something that almost got me killed multiple times. Lastly, it is something that is not talked about enough and something not a lot of people know about. What Carver went through can be classified as sibling abuse. I'm a victim it started when I was 7 and I didn't know what it was till 12 years later when I was 19. I knew what was happening to me wasn't ok but I didn't know it had its abuse category if that makes sense. Thankfully I am no longer in that situation and am safe.

As soon as the explosion was over Kelly ran into the house.

"Stella Carver calls out" Kelly yelled.

He quickly found Stella and ran up to her. She woke up and groaned in pain.

"Hey, you caught some shrapnel dont move," Kelly told her.

Stella groaned in pain again when Kelly applied pressure.

"I know I know I'm sorry ssh" Kelly soothed.

Sylvie and Violet got there a minute later and got Stella on the Stretcher. She screamed in pain when she was lifted up and placed on the stretcher.

"Ssh ssh you going to be ok" Kelly soothed.

They got into the ambulance and kelly continued holding pressure. Stella was groaning in pain the whole time because of the pressure and all Kelly wanted to do is hold her hand but he couldn't. Once Stella was done getting an iv in and getting her hooked up to the monitors she took over applying pressure.

"I know it hurts I know the pain meds should kick in soon just squeeze my hand as hard as you need to I've got you" Kelly soothed, Stella had a death grip on his hand.

They got to the hospital and Kelly went back with Stella while they evaluated her.

"She has a grade 2 concussion and we need to get her up to surgery to wash out and repair her wound," Marcel told Kelly.

Stella got rolled up to surgery and Kelly went to update everyone.

"She's going to be ok. There is no permanent damage she's in surgery now to clean out and repair everything.

Everyone except for kelly went back to the house and Kelly stayed in the waiting room. Crockett walked up to him an hour later.

"She did great everything went smoothly she is going to make a full recovery. She's still asleep but you can see her now" Crockett told him.

He got into the room and sat down in the chair next to her bed and grabbed her hand. He dozed off after an hour. He woke up to Stella groaning in pain trying to reach for the water.

"I've got it hang on," Kelly told her.

He got the cup of water for her and held it to her lips. She slowly took a couple of sips then laid back down and groaned in pain.

"Hey, honey how's your pain?" Kelly asked.

"My side and head are killing me" Stella replied.

"Squeeze my hand as hard as you need to," Kelly said.

"You have a concussion and you had surgery on your side to repair and clean everything out they had you on some pretty strong pain meds hopefully they can give you more soon," Kelly told her.

Crockett came in a minute later.

"Hey, Stella you did great in surgery your going to make a full recovery. You have a grade 2 concussion which will take about 3 weeks to heal and your stitches can come out in about 2 weeks. Then you need to rest for a week or 2 depending on how you feel" Crockett told them.

"Thank you when can I go home?" Stella asked.

"In the morning. We're keeping you for observation because of your concussion and surgery" Crockett told her.

"What's your pain level?" Crockett asked.

"6" Stella replied.

"Ok, I'm pushing more meds," Crockett told her.

He pushed more meds and Stella fell asleep soon after. She woke up for dinner but then went right back to sleep until morning.

"Hey, Stella we're going to give you a tetanus shot and then get you discharged," Crockett told her.

She got her tetanus shot and got discharged.

"Ok so take it easy for a while. You'll probably sleep a lot because of the concussion and pain meds. No alcohol screens physical activity you can have caffeine but limit it. I'm prescribing you antibiotics that you need to take 2 times a day for 10 days. I'm also prescribing your pain meds. Take those as long as you need them. You should be able to switch to over-the-counter meds in a week to a week and a half. For your side be careful when moving so you dont rip any stitches. Put a waterproof bandage over your stitches when your shower but make sure the adhesive doesn't get on the stitches as it could tear them. Watch for infection and clean around the area with warm soapy water but dont get the stitches wet" Crockett told her.

They got home and immediately got in bed. She woke up with a scream from a nightmare a couple of hours later.

"Ssh ssh your ok your safe just breathe I've got you" Kelly soothed while gently pulling her into his lap.

"You ok?" he asked once she had calmed down.

"Yeah, I had a dream about the explosion" Stella replied.

"Do need anything from me?" Kelly asked.

"I want to shower but I feel so weak," Stella said.

"It's ok ill help you," Kelly told her.

He helped her into the bathroom and helped her get undressed. He then took off the bandage that had been put on at the hospital and quickly cleaned around her stitches before putting the waterproof one on. Kelly got in the shower and had Stella lean against him since sitting hurt her side more than standing. He helped her wash her hair and body then they both got out. They both got dressed and Kelly started making dinner while Stella lay on the couch. Kelly made tomato soup for dinner and they both ate and Stella took her meds. After dinner, they talked for a bit and fell asleep. She slept most of the time for the next week only waking up because of nightmares, for meals, and using the bathroom. A week and a half later she was feeling a lot better. although she was still having daily nightmares. She was able to get off the prescription pain meds and stay awake longer. Sylvie and Violet came over for a bit and they all talked and had dinner. 2 weeks later she got her stitches out. A week and a half later she was able to go back and her nightmares were lessening. When she got back to her first shift after the explosion everyone was happy to have her back and hugged her.

Stella went to her locker to grab something and lifted up her shirt to take at her scar. She quickly pulled it back down when she heard footsteps. Kelly walked up to her a couple of seconds later.

"You ready for this?" Kelly asked.

"Hell yeah," Stella replied,

"Listen you looked out for me when I had trouble sleeping and you having your own lately so," Kelly told her.

"I'm fine listen after 3 weeks off I've got enough energy built up to lift a truck"

They continued talking for a bit then Stella headed into the main room.

"Hey, you'll take a break if you need one right?" Kelly asked as she walked away.

"Absolutely" Stella replied.

Stella was in the bathroom applying cream to her scar when Carver walked in.

"Oh sorry, I should've knocked I can just wash my hands in the kitchen," Carver said when he saw her.

"Carver it's no big deal we shower and sleep together" Stella replied. He gave her a weird look "you know what I mean anyway I am done" Stella told him. "Hey, how did it go with Lieutenant Wallback while I was gone?" Stella asked

"All good" Carver replied.

"Really?" Stella asked.

"Why wouldn't it?" Carver replied.

"Because everything is awesome to him and your good mornings sound sarcastic so I figured you two would be like oil and water," Stella told him.

"Yeah, we actually hit it off sorry to disappoint" Carver replied.

"Oh," Stella said

"I mean he's a fine lieutenant but has no Stella Kidd" Carver told her.

"Why do I feel like you're messing with me?" Stella asked.

He was about to answer but the bells rang. They went on their call and when they came back Kelly was waiting for Stella.

"Hey, how did it go?" Kelly asked

"Hey," Stella said

"First call back," Kelly told told her.

"Yeah, we caught a weird one" Stella replied.

"What's all that?" Kelly asked pointing to her shirt"

"Decades of Italian beef grease yeah I'm never touching one again" Stella replied.

"So you saw some action?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah always wanna be on the ropes I will fill you in later I just gotta go talk to Carver," Stella told him.

She walked into the gear room and Carver was sitting on a bench.

"Did you fall and hit your head or something while I was gone because whoever was on that call is not the Carver that I know?" Stella asked.

"Is this about the not?" Carver responded.

"You hesitated" Stella replied.

"It didn't look secure" Carver answered.

"Come on the double figure eight knot was perfect," Stella told him.

"Do you wanna tell me what's really going on?" Stella asked.

"Sorry about the hesitating ill do better," Carver told her.

"You were better before just bring the old Carver back," Stella told him.

Kelly walked into the garage area looking for Gallo and saw him.

"Hey Gallo I've been looking for you," Kelly told him.

"What's up, Lieutenant?" Gallo asked.

"How's everything on truck? I know it's been a few weeks but your team took the brunt of that call" Kelly replied.

"It's been great to have Kidd back but uh Carvers been struggling a little," Gallo told him.

"Struggling how?" Kelly asked.

"Well we roped Kidd down into that vent he kind of panicked just for a second nothing huge but he hasn't totally been himself lately. None of that cocky stuff you know?" Gallo told him.

"Thanks, man" Kelly told him as he walked away.

"Hey," Kelly told Stella as he walked up to her.

"Hey, can we talk in private?" Stella asked,

"Yeah sure" Kelly replied.

They went into Kelly's office.

"Is everything ok?" Kelly asked.

"Yeah, have you noticed Carver acting differently?" Stella replied.

"Yeah your not the only one. I just talked to Gallo he said the same thing. He talked about him acting differently not as cocky and panicking slightly on your call this morning" Kelly told her.

"I'm trying to figure out what happened and why he's acting so different," Stella said.

"I think he feels guilty. Guilty that he got away pretty much unscathed and you didn't. I feel like he feels like he could've done more" Kelly told her.

"But none of that was his fault. It was a freak accident. He couldn't have done more. He did everything he could. If he tried to do more he easily could've been killed" Stella replied.

"I know," Kelly told her.

"I'm going to talk to him later and tell him it wasn't his fault, it was a freak accident and I still trust him," Stella replied.

"I think that's a good idea" Kelly responded.

"Yeah" Stella replied.

"It just sounds like he's really going through it this stuff is hard to go through solo it might help to talk to someone who was there for both of you," Kelly told her.

You going soft on me Kelly severide?"

"No I just think talking would be good for the both of you" Kelly replied.

"Yeah, that's a good idea" Stella replied.

Stella saw Carver in the locker room as she was heading out to go home and decided to invite him out to Mollys.

"Hey, Carver makes sure you stop by Mollys tonight all right," Stella told him.

"You got it what's the occasion?" Carver asked.

"Hermann won't be in so we can dip into a bottle" Stella replied.

Carver nodded.

"Great" Stella replied and walked out.

Stella was behind the bar when Carver came in. it was a slow night so she decided to talk to him.

"Why do I feel like I am about to be led into a firing squad?" Carver asked.

"Oh, we really dont trust each other much do we" Stella joked, trying to lighten the mood.

'Why did you ask me here?" Carver asked.

"We never really got a chance to talk about the explosion," Stella told him

'We were both there so" Carver replied.

"Yeah and then I was out on medical and you were back on shift 2 days later like it was nothing," Stella told him.

"I'm trying to pretend like it didn't affect me because I got out unscathed and you ended up in the hospital" Carver replied.

"Just because you didn't get hurt doesn't mean you aren't allowed to be affected by it. We both went through something traumatic and it is ok not to be one hundred percent ok, I've been having these nightmares lately pretty much every night and I thought they would go away eventually but here we are" Stella replied. "Have you been having them.?" Stella asked.

"NIghtmares no not more than usual" Carver replied.

"Let me know if you ever not ok though," Stella told him.

"Thanks, I will" Carver replied.

"Truth is I keep trying to put this whole thing behind me but every day I wake up and I see this scar on my side and it all just comes flooding back," Stella told him.

"Scars are good for that" Carver replied. He sipped his drink and started to look a bit distressed.

"You ok?" Stella asked.

"Yeah um my older brother was always a bully but one night when I was nine years old he took it up a notch. We were at this big family bonfire something we did every July 4th but this year when no one else was around he snuck up behind me and he...shoved me into the flames." Carver told her.

"No" Stella replied quietly

Kelly had walked in right as Carver began to reply but Stella didn't see him.

"I dragged myself out of there I will never forget that pain meanwhile he ran and told everyone that I had fallen into the fire and he saved me like he was the big hero. No one believed my version of what actually happened because that's too insane what 15-year-old would do that to his little brother right? I must be lying. I got in trouble for lying. I was forced to go to bed at 5 pm. I couldn't have dinner or watch the fireworks. I was starving and in pain. He abused me until I went off to college. I was mainly the one who got in trouble even though I did nothing. I mean he got in trouble a few times for what he did to me but most of the time I was the one getting in trouble. My parents tried to say it was just sibling rivalry and didn't listen to me or believe me and yelled at me when I tried to tell them it was so much more than that." Carver told her.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry I had no idea. I just wanted to let you know you are not alone. I grew up in a very similar situation. My sister was constantly physically and emotionally hurting me. It almost got me killed multiple times. The first incident was when we were swimming. She pushed me underwater and stood on top of me. I was only 7 I couldn't fight back. I was trapped. My cousin got her off of me and pulled me out. I was semi-conscious and wasn't breathing normally. I had inhaled a ton of water. I threw up water at least 10 separate times that night. Another time she intentionally pushed a bookshelf over on me. She was always hitting, kicking pinching, throwing me into things, and pushing me. She even pushed me into a bathtub one time. I got away pretty much unscathed. I had a concussion but the doctor said with the way I landed I should've been paralyzed or even killed. She almost physically killed me a total of 6 times. All of which were intentional. I got in trouble for some of those, and most of the other incidents that weren't as bad. Like you said my sister got in trouble sometimes but I was the main one getting in trouble even though I was the victim. She also emotionally abused me to the point where I self-harmed and was suicidal and wanted to take my life 8 times just because of her. I'm so sorry you went through all of that ita something no one should have to go through and something I wouldn't wish on anyone" Stella told him

"Oh my god, Stella I had no idea. I'm sorry, I brought it up." Carver replied.

"Carver no dont apologize. I'm glad you did. It honestly felt good to open up about it." Stella reassured him.

"Yeah, it did feel good it's just so hard" Carver replied looking down.

"Can I give you a hug?" Stella asked.

"Yeah" Carver replied.

She came out from behind the counter and saw Kelly. They made eye contact and Kelly silently asked if she was ok. Stella shook her head. She had a feeling Kelly had heard her whole story. Which she had never told him.

Carver and Stella hugged and Stella went back behind the counter.

"Drink some water you look pale," she told,l him.

"He tried to drink but his hand was shaking too much. He stood up to try to go to the bathroom to splash some cold water on his face to calm himself down. As soon as he stood up his Kness bucked. He nearly fell but Kelly was behind him and caught him. Stella ran up to him.

"Woah let's get you sitting back down," Kelly said help g him back into his chair.

"You ok?" Stella asked.

Carver began to hyperventilate.

"Breathe with me, Carver. Breathe in when I squeeze your hands and breathe out when I let go." Stella repeated this until he got his breathing back under control.

"You ok?" Stella asked.

"Yeah" Carver replied.

"Try and drink some water," Stella told him.

He slowly drank the water.

"Hey man I heard everything. I am so sorry you went through all of that. You can always talk to Stella and me if you need. 51 is a family. We are all there for each other no matter what lean on us when you need to. We will all support you" Kelly told him.

"Thanks, Kelly it means a lot," Carver replied.

They sat there in silence for a couple of minutes.

"I am going to head home and go to sleep. Thank you, guys, for everything it means a lot" Carver told them.

Stella and Kelly hugged him and he left. Kelly stayed until Stella closed a few hours later. They went home together and got in bed.

"You heard everything didn't you?" Stella asked nervously.

"Yeah, why didn't you tell me, honey?" Kelly asked,

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to keep it from you. I was just embarrassed. I felt so ashamed. She was younger than me but bigger than me. I just felt so weak it makes me feel so weak" Stella cried.

"No Stella, sssh you went through hell and did the best you could to survive. Dont be ashamed or embarrassed this is not your fault. You are not weak and you are the strongest people I know. I'm so sorry you went through all of this. I promise I am here for you for everything. I love you so much" Kelly told her.

"Thanks, I love you kelly. I know deep down inside that I'm not weak and I shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed. It's just so hard especially because I got in trouble for a lot of it even though I was the victim." Stella replied.

"I'm so sorry. You are a survivor. You went through hell and survived. You are now thriving in life you are such an amazing person I love you so much" Kelly told her.

"Thank you I love you too" Stella cried.

"Ssh I've got you I'm here your safe try and get some sleep," Kelly told her while laying down and pulling her into his arms. Stella cried herself to sleep a few minutes later. She woke up soon after from a nightmare. She shot up in bed and screamed.

"Hey hey, honey hey you're ok you're ok" Kelly soothed while moving her hair out of her face and putting his hand over hers. 'It's just another bad dream your ok" He soothed. while rubbing her back.

Stella shook her head. "I'm so sick of this like is this ever gonna end?" Stella replied.

She got out of bed and went to the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. Once she came back Kelly pulled her into his chest again.

"Try and get some sleep I'm here," Kelly told her.

"I'm so sick of the nightmares" Stella replied.

"I know I know but you're not alone I'm here for you every step of the way," Kelly told her.

She woke up an hour later from a nightmare but this time it was about her sister.

"No stop I'm sorry please dont hurt me I didn't mean to I'm sorry" Stella cried in her sleep.

"Hey, Stella ssh it's not real your safe you're not there anymore" Kelly soothed while rubbing her back.

She shot up and started to hyperventilate.

"Ssh ssh just breathe for me in 1,2,3,4 out 1,2,3,4" Kelly repeatedly soothed until her breathing went back to normal.

" I'm sorry I had a nightmare about the time I was listening to music with headphones in and didn't hear my sister tell me something. Instead of tapping my shoulder and getting my attention like a normal person, she grabbed me dragged me across the room and threw me into a door, and scratched the hell out of me while screaming in my face. The next morning when I told my parents my mom said I deserved it and it was my fault and I had to clean the whole house by myself even though I did nothing wrong" Stella told him.

"No Stella don't apologize it wasn't your fault and you can't control nightmares. I'm so sorry you went through all of that but I promise you you are safe with me and I am never going to hurt you. In here for all of it," Kelly told her.

"Thanks, babe I love you" Stella replied

" I love you too honey try and get some sleep I'm here your not alone" Kelly reassured her.

Stella fell asleep soon after. They had the next day off so they slept in. once they woke up Stella called Carver and invited him over to watch the football game that was on. They talked and watched the game together.

It took a month for Stella's nightmares to stop but Kelly was there for her every step of the way. Carver also got closer to Stella and Kelly and all 3 of them hung out outside of work at least once per week.

A/N To any abuse victims it is not your fault and you didn't deserve any of it at all. I promise you that it will get better. Even if it takes a while it will happen. There is help out there if you need it. Also, my DMS is always open.