Shay was sitting up in the chair next to her bed. She was being encouraged to try to sit up for longer periods, but it was awkward as she still had a catheter in, which occasionally got in the way. She looked over at her visitors and smiled. Christopher and Cindy had turned up with their children, who now occupied her bed, although Kenny was sitting on her lap with a picture book.

It had been over a week since her excursion onto the roof garden, and Kelly had taken her up there a couple of times since then. She still couldn't really walk as she was still too weak, but she was now able to feed herself, although it took a while, so she still had a feeding tube in just in case.

Cindy looked over and saw Shay's eyes starting to drop, so she got the kids off Shay's bed, gave Kenny to Chris, and helped Shay get into bed. She was asleep in no time at all. As they herded the kids out the room, she looked back at Shay and smiled. She'd held Christopher the night of the building explosion as he'd cried, believing that they were going to lose Leslie, but now here they were, just over a month later, and she was making good progress.

Three days later, and Shay was being moved out of the hospital to a rehabilitation center. The doctors had removed her feeding tube, and while she still had the catheter in, it was being removed in a few days. As while she was still very weak, she could, with the aid of a walker or wheelchair, move around. Kelly was there to help with the move, especially as Mills had bought her a huge soft toy Garfield that he'd put an imitation paramedic's uniform on.

He'd argued with his mom for weeks that he wanted to go and see Shay, but she kept refusing to take him. In the end, he got Cruz and Otis to take him. The journey to the rehab center wasn't too long, although it was just outside the city, so she probably wouldn't have as many visitors, but Severide assured her he'd still be there every step of the way. He also told her about his latest girlfriend, Detective Erin Lindsay.

Shay smiled, but there was a tinge of sadness as Dawson hadn't been to see her for a while. When she asked Kelly, he dodged the question, but in the end, he told her everything. About how Dawson felt Shay's injury was her fault for swapping places and how as a result, she still wasn't sleeping well.

Shay had been in the rehab center for a week when she had an accident while doing some standing exercises at the parallel bars. She waited until the physio had turned to move a piece of equipment, and then she took her hands off the bars and tried to take a step. Her legs gave out, and as she fell, she hit her head on one of the bars. Kelly was just getting in from shift when his phone rang. He answered it, then dropped everything and ran to his car.

He entered her room and saw her looking sheepishly at him with plaster on her cheek and a large bruise forming.

"What the hell were you thinking, Shay? You could have seriously hurt yourself," Kelly said in concern.

"I'm sorry, Kelly. I just saw a chance to walk and tried. I just want to get out of here and back to work," Shay replied tearfully.

"Okay, look, give me half an hour. I'll be back," he replied, not wanting to see his best friend crying.

Half an hour later, she was in the passenger seat of Kelly's car, being driven into the city. The rehab center had allowed it as long as Shay used her wheelchair.

She didn't realize where they were until they pulled up at Manny's deli. After helping Shay into the wheelchair, they went in, and she was greeted with cheers from the staff and regulars. All Shay could do was blush. They had coffee, although Leslie had to have decaf and a bagel. "Thanks, Kelly. I needed this," she told him gratefully.

"It's not over yet. They said we could have the day," Kelly replied.

"You've been amazing, Kelly, and I feel stupid for asking, but why?" she asked him shyly.

"You're right, that is stupid. You're my best friend, Shay. In fact, no, you're like my sister, and I'd do anything for you," he told her earnestly. Before she knew it they were in his car going to Molly's,she wasn't sure she wanted to go but Kelly convinced her that she would be fine and not everyone would be there as Casey hadn't been able to get hold of everyone. That however proved incorrect because as they entered Molly's the whole of Firehouse 51 2nd shift cheered her,Severide pushed her to a table. "Ok he got hold of more people than I thought"he said with a grin.