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Kelly

The days seemed to blur together, but Kelly Severide found himself clinging to one thing—his fleeting encounters with Dr. Blair Evans. Each visit to Chicago Med, though routine in theory, had taken on a new purpose. He'd scan the hallways, hoping to catch a glimpse of her dark hair and focused gaze, her presence lifting a weight he hadn't realized he was carrying. She'd become an anchor for his thoughts, an unexpected distraction that lingered even when he was back at the firehouse.

He felt foolish. They hadn't even spoken, hadn't shared more than a few glances. But that didn't stop the pull he felt, like some magnetic force beyond his control. It was irrational and unexpected, but undeniable. She had a quiet presence that soothed him, an ease and dedication in her work that he found admirable, even beautiful. Watching her with patients, the way she leaned in with genuine care, was more than enough to keep his mind occupied—and, lately, it had been. Too much.

It wasn't long before his distraction became obvious. One afternoon, during a rare moment of calm at Firehouse 51, he found himself leaning against Truck 81, lost in thought. His gaze drifted to nowhere in particular, his mind entirely on Blair and those brief, stolen glances they'd shared. The feeling she stirred in him was unfamiliar. There was no easy label, no way to categorize the quiet yearning he felt, the desire to simply be near her.

"You've got it bad for that doc, don't you?"

The voice pulled him out of his reverie. Turning, Kelly found his best friend, Matt Casey, watching him with a knowing grin, his eyebrow raised. It was the sort of look Casey gave him whenever Kelly's mind wasn't fully in the present, as if he could read every thought crossing his mind.

Kelly straightened up, forcing a casual shrug, though he couldn't quite manage to hide the grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied, a hint of playful deflection in his tone.

Casey laughed, clapping him on the shoulder. "Yeah, right. Come on, Sev. I've seen that look before," he teased. "You're acting like a kid with his first crush."

Kelly let out a reluctant chuckle, shaking his head. "Maybe I am," he admitted quietly, surprised by the truth in his own words. He wasn't the type to fall quickly. He'd been with his fair share of women, but none had ever lingered in his thoughts like Blair. It was as though she'd found her way into a part of him he hadn't even known was there.

"You know," Casey continued, his voice more serious now, "it's okay to go after something real if that's what you want. You've been through more than most, Sev, but that doesn't mean you don't have a shot at something real. Blair isn't looking for perfection; she's probably looking for someone who's seen both sides of the coin and still chooses to fight."

Kelly glanced down, his gaze landing on the worn leather strap of his turnout gear. Casey had a point—he'd been running on empty for a while now, filling his life with work, with quick flings and reckless decisions. He'd kept himself closed off, not wanting to let anyone get too close. And maybe that's why Blair felt so different. She made him want to be someone better, someone he wasn't entirely sure he knew how to be.

But as much as he wanted to know her, there was a hesitation, a voice in the back of his mind whispering that he wasn't the kind of man she deserved. She was a doctor, a healer, someone who gave her all for the good of others. And what was he? A firefighter with a long history of risky choices and fleeting relationships. He'd never been the settling-down type, and the idea of it felt foreign, like trying to wear a coat that didn't quite fit.

"I don't know, man," Kelly said finally, his voice carrying a rare vulnerability. "She just… she deserves someone good. Someone who's got their life figured out. And that's… that's not me."

Casey shook his head, a look of quiet understanding in his eyes. "Look, Sev, we all have our rough edges. But that doesn't mean we don't deserve a chance at something real. And besides, you're a good guy. You just don't see it."

Kelly appreciated Casey's words, even if he wasn't entirely convinced. He thought of the way he'd watched Blair comforting a nervous elderly patient just last week, her hand steady on their shoulder, her voice soft but unwavering. Watching her that day, he'd felt something he hadn't in a long time—like maybe, just maybe, he could be someone different.

--

Later that night, as he lay awake in his apartment, he couldn't shake the image of Blair's soft smile, the way her hazel eyes had met his blue eyes with that brief flicker of curiosity. She probably didn't even remember him—he was just one more patient in a sea of faces. But he remembered her, every detail. The way her dark hair framed her beautiful face, the way her laughter echoed in the sterile hallways, even the gentle tone she used when speaking to her patients.

Staring up at the ceiling, he let his thoughts drift. What are you doing, Severide? he thought, an edge of frustration in his mind. She's a doctor, someone who's out there saving lives every day. And here you are, lying in bed, obsessing over someone you barely know.

But that wasn't entirely true. He didn't know her, but he knew the way her eyes softened when she spoke to a worried family member, the way her hands moved with steady confidence even in high-stress situations. She was strong, compassionate, and so damn… real. When was the last time someone like that even crossed your path?

His heart twisted. He'd spent years building walls, convincing himself that all he needed was work and the occasional casual relationship. But Blair made him feel like he was missing something, like he was only just starting to realize how empty his life had become.

Maybe it's the way she looks at people, like they're worth saving. A bitter smile crept onto his face. Would she look at me the same way? Or would she see everything I'm trying so hard to hide?

The doubts lingered, but in the quiet darkness of his apartment, something else stirred—hope, fragile but persistent. He knew he was overthinking it, but he couldn't help it. Part of him wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could be the one who broke through his defenses, the one who saw him—the real him—and didn't turn away.

He closed his eyes, Blair's face still etched in his mind. Maybe I'm setting myself up for heartbreak, he thought, a rueful smile playing on his lips. But if there's even a chance… then it's worth it.

Blair Evans had come into his life in the most unexpected way, and he wasn't about to ignore it. Whether it led to heartbreak or something lasting, he was ready to find out.

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