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Shift started off as per usual. Calls were constant, the firehouse was busy, and the comradery felt high. Everything to indicate a perfectly normal shift.
Around late afternoon is when things took a wild turn to say the least. Squad was outside running dummy drills while the members of Truck 81, Ambulance 61, and Engine 51 were scattered about the firehouse.
Gallo and Ritter were on dinner duty. That always meant a lot of bickering, but it was fun to eavesdrop on, which was what Brett and Violet were currently doing as they filled out the remaining incident reports from earlier in their shift. They were also at this moment responsible for watching over Stella’s phone while she filled out her own paperwork. The lieutenant complained that 51’s group chat was too loud, despite being on shift, so she hid it away in the common room so she wouldn’t be tempted. The decision was also made after Capp took joy in blowing up her phone purposefully.
Just as Brett was signing off on the last of her reports, a buzzing sound disrupted the room.
“Not mine,” Violet said, shaking her head as she shoved her phone back into her pocket, eyes glued to the paper in front of her.
Gallo and Ritter also shook their heads. “Ours are charging in the bunk room,” Ritter explained..
“Must be Stella’s,” Brett mumbled, knowing it wasn't her phone going off either. Sure enough, when she peered over the table, Stella’s phone was lit up with the name “Will Halstead.”
Making a split second decision, she grabbed it as she wasn’t going to get the phone to the owner in time. Normally she would just let the phone go to voicemail, but since they were all friends with the Med staff, she opted to answer.
“Will?” Brett answered.
As if not paying any attention to the speaker, Will started rambling. “Hey Stella, I wasn’t able to approve your annual physical. High levels of HCG were found in your blood test, so I’ll need you to come back in.”
Brett’s jaw dropped as she stood, shell shocked. Being a paramedic, she knew what high levels of HCG meant. Could Stella really be pregnant?
“Stella’s pregnant?” Was the first thing that came out of her mouth. However, she immediately regretted it once she saw the attentive looks coming from Violet, Gallo, and Ritter.
There was a long sigh from the other end of the phone. “Sylvie…you are not Stella.”
“No, but is it true? I know what that means–”
“–because you’re a paramedic, that’s right,” Will interrupted. There was a short pause before he continued. “Listen, I’m not allowed to discuss patient’s information, but since you already know…it is a very high probability.”
“Oh my god!” Brett squealed as discreetly as she could, still feeling the eyes of the other three on her.
“Just let her know and have her call me back.”
“No, no! She can’t know that we know. Just call her tomorrow morning once we’re off shift. That way it will just be her and Kelly,” Brett frantically explained.
“Alright, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thanks, Will!” With that, she hung up the phone, a large smile plastered on her face. She was getting an overwhelming feeling of guilt though. Now her and Kelly’s official announcement will be spoiled. But for now, her thoughts were immediately interrupted by the clearing of a throat. Causing her to break away from her train of thought, she turned around to see three very surprised faces.
“Kidd’s pregnant?” Gallo asked, his eyebrows raised.
Brett pursed her lips but nodded slightly. Violet gasped while Ritter’s eyes widened, his and Gallo’s previous dinner preparations long forgotten.
“Wait! We have to keep quiet about this. We have to let her find out on her own. Not from one of us, and definitely no telling Severide,” Brett said strictly.
“Right, definitely not,” Violet quickly agreed.
Ritter imitated zipping his lips. “Won’t say a word.”
“Good, now keep going with dinner, I’m starving.”
Things continued to be normal for the next half hour, that is until Stella, Mouch, and Herrmann entered the room. Brett had to bite her tongue upon seeing Stella after finding out the news, and she could tell the other three were doing the same.
The lieutenant made her way over to the table and picked up her phone before glancing at it slightly. Slipping it into her pocket, she smiled at the group.
“Paperwork done?” Violet asked, her smile a bit wider than usual.
“All done!” She exclaimed before turning to Gallo and Mouch who were hovering around the kitchen area. “Hey, I’m thinking about running a couple of drills tonight while it’s dark out. Would you two mind helping me set it up after dinner?”
Mouch gave her a thumbs up. “Sure, no problem.”
But, this sentence caused fear to run through Brett. “Hey, why don’t you just take it easy tonight? It’s been a long shift and I can tell you’re tired.”
Luckily, the trio seemed to pick up on said suggestion. “Yeah,” Violet started. “Maybe head in a little early or something?”
Stella’s face contorted in confusion as she looked at the two paramedics. “If this is about me being sick earlier this week, I promise I’m fine now. Just some bad takeout.”
Violet seemed at a loss for how to continue but didn’t press the matter. Brett, on the other hand, wasn’t giving up that easy. “We’re just worried,” she said with a grin..
“And I get that, but really, I’m fine.” Stella held her hands up in a slight surrender though. “But, if it’s worrying you that much, we can take tonight off and schedule it for next shift.”
“Sounds good to me,” Mouch said, nodding.
“Okay, well, I’m going to go turn these into Boden and get a couple of things done. Let me know when dinner’s ready,” Stella announced as she turned to leave the room.
“Will do!” Ritter answered.
Once she was out of earshot, Mouch leaned in towards the group. “Okay, what was that all about?”
Herrmann nodded, his eyes narrowing. “Yeah, you paramedics don’t usually care about firefighter drills.”
Gallo’s eyes brightened. “Kidd’s pregnant!”
“Gallo!” Both Brett and Violet hissed at him.
The young firefighter shrugged his shoulders. “What? I thought we were just not allowed to tell Severide or Kidd.”
Brett, Violet, and Ritter shook their heads while each of them suppressed an eye roll. But, before they had a chance to lash out on him, Herrmann interrupted with the wave of his hand.
“Wait, Kidd’s pregnant?”
Brett held a hand to her forehead. “Yes, but technically none of us are supposed to know that.”
“And she doesn’t even know?” Brett shook her head.
“Then how do all of you know?” Mouch asked bewildered.
“Dr. Halstead called and I answered the phone and told me before realizing I wasn't her.”
A sincere smile spread across Herrmann’s lips. “Ah, so it is true. Well, that’s great news.”
Mouch nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Trudy and I actually had a bet on whether or not it would happen this year.”
“Totally not necessary, Mouch,” Brett sighed. “But now you two know. Will’s going to call back after shift, so no letting it slip to Severide or Kidd that she’s pregnant.”
“Kidd’s pregnant?” Cruz asked, seemingly startled. It was then that the firefighter entered the room, Capp and Tony close behind.
Brett rubbed at her temple and could feel a migraine coming on. This was the exact opposite of what was supposed to happen. “Is Severide with you?” she managed to ask. After receiving three various no’s, she sighed in relief. “Yes, she’s pregnant, but no telling—Capp wait!”
At this point Capp was already out of the common room and heading towards the bunk room, completely disregarding anything Brett was shouting at him.
“Someone stop him!” she yelled, exasperated. But no one was quick enough. By now, Capp had already entered the bunk room and was heading straight for Kelly’s office. When Brett did finally reach him, Capp was already speaking.
“Lieutenant, you didn’t tell me you were going to be a father!”
Kelly dropped what he was doing and glanced up at Capp, his face paling slightly.
“What, Capp?” he asked, confused.
“Nothing!” Brett cut in. “He’s just rambling.” She tried to yank Capp away but Kelly held a hand out to stop her.
“Where did you hear that, Capp?”
Capp nodded his head towards the paramedic. “From Brett. Everyone in the common room is talking about it.”
Kelly’s brows went up as he looked at Brett for an explanation. Brett took in a sharp breath as she glared at the firefighter next to her. “Capp, he doesn’t know.”
A look of realization washed over his face. “Oh, oh no.”
Brett rolled her eyes. “Yeah.”
Kelly seemed to be processing the whole situation, but still looked just as confused as he did a minute ago. “How do you all know this and I don’t?”
Brett leaned against the door frame as she prepared to tell the tale yet again. “Will Halstead called Stella and I answered. He said that she’s pregnant without realizing that I wasn’t Stella.”
“So that’s why Kidd’s physical didn’t come in today?” Boden asked from behind them.
“Great, now literally everyone knows,” Brett muttered.
Kelly closed his eyes for a moment before looking back up at them with a soft smile. “So it’s true? She’s pregnant.”
Brett mirrored his smile and nodded. “Yeah, it’s true. Congratulations!”
Kelly chuckled happily as he ran a hand through his short hair. Boden clapped him on the back while Capp whooped loudly (until he got a smack by Brett).
“Listen, you have to go talk to her. Will’s supposed to call back after shift, but now everyone knows except for Stella,” Brett stressed at him.
“Okay, I will,” Kelly agreed, eyeing Boden wearily.
Boden gave him a rare tearful smile. “Head on home Severide and get things ready. I know you won’t be able to focus now. I’ll send Kidd home in a little bit and call for two floater lieutenants to fill in.”
Kelly immediately hopped up and started to quickly pack his things before heading out of his office. “Thanks.”
“Good luck!” Brett called from behind.
Over at the loft, full preparations were underway. Kelly had managed to buy as many bundles of flowers as his arms could hold and proceeded to arrange them all around the apartment. He also picked up a few of her favorite candies and her favorite takeout from the Chinese restaurant down the street. The lieutenant even managed to find Stella’s stash of candles she kept in their linen closet and set them up carefully. The whole loft looked so cozy and full of anticipation; perfect for tonight. Kelly wasn’t exactly sure what time Stella would be heading home, so he found himself pacing the kitchen anxiously.
So many thoughts were running through his head. He was excited, full of fear, and just so, so, happy. He’s been wanting this as long as he could remember, and now it is becoming a reality.
It wasn’t until the front door opened that Kelly managed to stop in his tracks, a bright smile lightning up his face. He felt that in this moment, he greatly resembled the Cheshire Cat.
Stella walked inside and hung her coat up without noticing the decor. When she did, however, her eyes widened and she looked towards Kelly, a look of question on her face.
“Kelly? What’s all this?” She asked, motioning to the loft. “Don’t get me wrong, it looks amazing, but why did Boden send us both home?”
Kelly took steps forward until he was able to hold her hand, a bundle of roses occupying the other; a twinkle in his eye. “You’re pregnant.”
He didn’t mean to just blurt it out, but at this current moment, that was the only thing he could think of saying.
Stella’s grip on his hand tightened as her eyes went as wide as saucers. “Huh?”
Kelly let out a small laugh as he set the bundle of roses down on the kitchen counter and used his now free hand to hold her remaining one. “It’s a long story…I guess Will Halstead called you, but Brett answered. Somehow Capp found out, and Capp told me. Apparently everyone knew before we did.”
Stella’s smile brightened as her eyes started to become a little glossy. “That’s why I’ve been feeling so weird.” Kelly nodded.
“So this is really happening? We’re having a baby?” At this point, streams of tears were running down Stella’s cheeks. Kelly cupped her face and brushed some of the fallen ones away.
“It is, we’re having a baby,” he said softly.
Stella gave a tearful laugh as she pressed her forehead against Kelly’s with him reciprocating.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” she said after a minute. “We've wanted this for so long.”
Kelly bobbled his head against hers. “We have. It just never felt like the right timing. But this…this feels–”
“–Perfect?” Stella finished.
“Yeah, exactly that. I'll thanking my lucky stars for this night.”
Kelly broke away from their embrace to wrap her in a full body hug. “I love you—so much.”
Stella squeezed him tightly. “I love you so much too.”