A few days later. at Jay's place.
Jay "why did you lie?"
I asked confused "what are you talking about?"
Jay "why did lie about the reason you got transferred onto the Truck?"
Me "I told you Kelly wanted me to go onto the Truck because he doesn't want to see me happy"
Jay "oh really? it has nothing to do with the fact that he showed up at your door the day before? He paid you a visit and the next day he is kicking you out of the team? "
I sighed "i didn't want you to worry about it, okay?"
Jay "he's still in love with you"
Me "He's dating Stella"
Jay shook his head "doesn't have to mean anything."
I sighed "Jay, this isn't a big of a deal"
Jay nodded "it is. what happened that night?"
I asked confused "what night?"
Jay " the night before you got transferred "
I shrugged "he showed up here, tried to kiss me and i kicked him out"
Jay "did you kiss back?"
Me "A kiss never happened, okay?"
Jay "but did you want him to kiss you?"
I snapped "do you want me to kick out too?"
Jay shot me a look.
I shook my head "i did not want to kiss him. i am with you, Jay, okay? "
Jay said kinda hurt "well, that didn't stop you the last time, did it?"
I scoffed "you seem to forget that you were falling for Erin while you were still with me, Jay."
Jay clenched his jaw "i have to go to work"
I nodded "then go to work. And if you keep bringing this up then don't bother coming back"
At the Firehouse.
I walked into Kelly's bunk room, slamming the door shut behind me "get your girlfriend under control"
Kelly turned to me annoyed "why are you telling me that?"
Me "Because she's your girlfriend. but hey, if you want me to talk to her then she will definitely end up with her head impaled on a haligan. "
Kelly "what did she do?"
Me "she got involved in my business, okay?"
Kelly "what did she do?"
Me "more like, what did you do? you told her that you went to my place the night before i got transferred? are you kidding me?"
Kelly "did she talk to you?"
Me "she talked to my boyfriend. And now he and i are fighting"
Kelly "sorry to hear that"
I scoffed, shaking my head "then wipe that stupid smirk off of your face."
Kelly just looked at me.
I said hurt "It's moments like this when i regret ever falling in love with you"
His face dropped.
The alarm went off "Engine 51, Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambulance 61, Battalion 25,"
-
We looked up to the building
A 15-story apartment complex was burning.
Chief "51, get me a water supply from the standpipe. Truck 81, Squad 3, I need search teams. Engine 37, get the hoses into the north stairwell. Ambulance 61, set up triage. Get ready, people. We're going to war."
We walked in.
Casey "Mouch, you're on lobby control. Get the elevators down here."
Mouch nodded "You got it, Captain."
Chief "Okay, fire is confined to 20 for now. We need to investigate the fire floor. Get to everybody trapped above it. I made at least four people signaling from their windows."
Kelly "We riding or walking?"
Chief "Casey."
Casey "Mouch, what's happening?"
Mouch "I have control of one, two, and four, but the number three car is stopped on the 18th floor, can't get it moving. "
Chief "Can we get a look inside of that elevator?"
The guy "Number three?"
We walked over to the security camera monitors.
Kelly "The car is empty, Mouch, but keep trying."
Mouch "Copy."
Chief "Okay, heat is interfering with the electronics. That settles it. You're climbing. To all companies we can't trust the elevators. Use the stairs only. Stage on 19. Truck 81, give me a primary search on 20. Squad 3, take 21. Engine 37 will attack the fire. Okay, let's go, let's go, let's go!"
--
Chief "Florence, what's it looking like up there?"
Me "Hang on, Chief, we're almost in."
Suddenly the door busted open with fire and Casey and i got thrown back.
I groaned out "Fire's too advanced at 20, Chief. We can't get a foothold."
Casey tried closing the door again.
Chief "Okay, new plan. Squad searches 21. Truck continues up to 22. Engine 37, get a hold of that fire floor."
Kelly "Copy that, Chief."
--
Hermann "Chief, we cleared 22. Flo and I are headed to 23."
Chief "Flo, I got Jay Halstead here. His father lives at 23C. He's not answering his phone. Take a look."
I nodded "On our way. "
-
Me "Chief, we're inside 23C right now"
Chief "Go ahead, Flo. What'd you find?"
Me "Nothing. The apartment's empty. No sign of Mr. Halstead."
Chief "Carry on, Flo."
Hermann and i walked to the staircase.
Me "Herrmann. You're looking a little peaked. I mean, you sure you don't want to stop, take a breather?"
Hermann "Like hell. I could do 20 more flights... And still run circles around you."
I scoffed "no doubt, old man"
-
Hermann's tank alarm was going on.
Me "Hey, how's your air?"
Hermann "I'm good. I got a new tank downstairs. Why, are you low?"
I looked at my clock and lied " I, uh... I got a few minutes left."
Hermann "All right. You know what, forget it. This floor is clear. Let's get below the fire."
I nodded "Copy that."
--
Kelly "Hey Chief, Cruz and I are getting the victim on the fire floor, but 37 needs relief on this side line. "
Me "Herrmann and I are on 19, we'll be right there."
Hermann "All right, we're gonna have to cut across to get to the attack stairwell."
I nodded and we walked through the floor.
-
we grabbed the hoses from the other guy to give them a break.
My alarm started to go off.
I sighed and turned it off.
Kelly "Hey, Herrmann, Flo, I hate to complain, but I got a young boy here."
Me "This thing is a beast! We're coming as fast as we can!"
Kelly "This isn't working. I'm gonna bail out."
Me "Kelly, don't do anything stupid!"
Hermann "Second line is on its way!"
Kelly "Hey, Flo, Herrmann, get out of there.Meet me on 19."
we were still trying to kill the fire.
Hermann "Listen. One more minute, we got this. Hang on, Severide!"
He was coughing.
Suddenly i had trouble breathing.
I choked for air and everything went black.
Next day. At the hospital. night.
I coughed out a little.
Kelly was standing there looking at me in tears.
I gave him a weak smile "hey"
Kelly smiled "i am so glad you're back"
I nodded "me too"
He buried his face in my neck.
I let the tears roll down my cheeks.
Next day. Morning. At the hospital.
Jay had shown up earlier. His dad had died in the fire. He was pretty beaten up with everything. I told him to go home and get some rest. He refused but then i was able to convince him to go home and get some rest.
Kelly walked in.
He was pissed off.
I sighed and sat up "what now?"
Kelly "you're dating Halstead again? Are you kidding me?""
I rolled my eyes.
Kelly "Florence"
I asked confused "yes?"
Kelly "are you seriously back together with Jay?"
I nodded "yes"
Kelly "why would you do that?"
Me "why would you cheat on me?"
Kelly "Florence"
Me "why would you go into a relationship with Kidd even though you told me you loved me not even the day before?"
Kelly just starred at me.
Me "all questions we don't have an answer to"
Kelly "why would you do that?"
Me "you wanna judge me? are you serious? Kelly, you are in a relationship with Kidd. You know the kind of responsibility you have towards her. And do you think being jealous of your ex and her new boyfriend is cool? Not it's not. "
Kelly "are you in love with him?"
Me "are you in love with Kidd?"
Kelly "I am in a relationship with her"
Me "that is not an answer to a "yes" or "no" question, Severide"
Kelly "what do you want to hear from me, Florence?"
Me "I want you to leave me alone."
Kelly "while we were together, were you still in love with him?"
I scoffed "what? you wanna hear me say "yes"? so that your cheating doesn't look as bad as it is?"
Kelly "answer the question"
Then I shook my head "no. I was never unfaithful to you. not once"
He nodded "Are you happy? with him?"
I looked down.
Kelly "Flo, what do you feel for him?"
I looked at him.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Casey walked in. Chief was the first in the morning to show up before shift so now it's Casey's turn.
Casey "hey, Flora"
I smiled "Matthew, hey"
Casey "how are you feeling?"
I nodded "well, i am still breathing"
He nodded "Well, that's great. you scared me out there"
I nodded "and i am sorry"
Kelly "something like that shouldn't have happened"
He glared at Casey.
Casey raised an eyebrow "you got something to say, Severide?"
Kelly "Actua-"
Me "stop it"
They looked at me.
Me "if you two decide to fight for the title of alpha male then take it outside, please"
Casey "i am not the one with the problem, Florence"
Me "i am serious, Matt. "
Casey nodded.
I looked at Kelly "i-i uhm, could you maybe get some water or anything"
Kelly nodded "sure"
Then he walked out.
Casey sat down next to me "you okay?"
I nodded "i am sorry, Casey"
Casey shook his head "no, you don't have to be sorry. you were trying to protect Kelly"
I nodded "and i nearly died for that son of a bitch"