Chapter Text
It was a crisp spring morning as the sun started shining in through the loft window. Stella’s eye flickered open as Kelly placed a kiss on her temple. The two laid in bed just mesmerized by the other one. One thing they both knew for sure was they would never get tired of each other. Stella was about to go in for a kiss when Kelly surprisingly grabbed at her side to tickle her. She let out a shriek and loud giggle. Soon she couldn’t breathe and was begging Kelly to stop tickling her. Kelly pulled her on top of him with a smile on his face.
Stella placed a kiss on his lips, “someone is in a playful mood this morning. Let’s get ready for work my love.”
Stella climbed off of Kelly and headed to take a shower and get ready for shift. Kelly didn’t even need to be asked to join her because he was already following her as she stepped into the shower. Unlike their usual joint showers this one did not turn out steamy. Kelly was still in a playful mood, so he was picking at Stella in the shower, in which she returned back at him.
The two finished showering and got dressed. As Stella worked her hair into her signature braids, Kelly went to start the coffee. He decided to pop a bagel into the toaster for Stella to have when she was done. He grabbed himself a few cookies and a glass of milk. Stella walked into the kitchen as he was finishing his last cookie and drinking the rest of the milk.
“What is it with you and milk and cookies for breakfast.” Stella asked jokingly as she grabbed the bagel, he had prepared for her.
Kelly got up to put his glass in the sink, “I eat breakfast at the station, that was just my early morning snack.” He told her as he turned and headed towards their bathroom to brush his teeth. Stella laughed and rolled her eyes at her husband. She finished her bagel and went to brush her teeth after Kelly had come out.
As she grabbed her toothbrush, she noticed a note Kelly had left for her.
I love you, my beautiful wife. You look incredible this morning.
Stella had the biggest smile on her face after reading the note. It really was the little things that he did that brightened her day. She finished brushing her teeth and placed the note with the other ones he had left her. As she joined Kelly by the kitchen island, she wrapped her arms around his back and placed her chin on his shoulder.
"Thank you for my note, Kelly. You know they always brighten my day.” She gave him a kiss and the two headed off to shift.
Morning briefing was interrupted by a call to a multi vehicle accident. Squad was first on the scene, so Kelly took command of the call. Kelly instructed Stella and truck to assess the white car while he and the rest of squad started trying to get the driver extracted of the pinned in vehicle. Boden called over to main to send additional ambos to the scene.
“Brett, we need a backboard and C collar over here.” Stella called out as she and Carver worked to get the child out of the backseat.
“Cruz, bring the jaws over here, let’s get this door opened.” Kelly called out.
Stella and Carver got the child out of the backseat as Mouch and Gallo freed the mother in the front. As the additional ambos arrived at the scene Brett and Violet took the child to Med, while the mom went in a separate ambo.
As Kelly and Cruz were still working to get the door opened the engine caught fire.
“Hermann, Ritter we need a hose line over here now. Capp, Tony, get some extinguishers on this until they get that line over here” Kelly called out.
Hermann and Ritter got the fire out as Cruz and Kelly finally got the pinned door opened. Brett and Violet had just returned to the scene when they pulled the victim out. They stabilized the victim and got him on the ambo and off to Med.
“Looks like the mom with the child wasn’t paying attention and hit the black car. Why can’t people just stay off their phones while they are driving?” Stella expressed sadly.
Everyone worked together on clean up and got back to the firehouse together. Tony and Capp were on breakfast duty, giving Ritter and Gallo a relief. Kelly made a comment to Stella about how his cookies were starting to where-off and he needed Capp and Tony to hurry up. Stella couldn’t help but laugh and nudged his side. Finally, breakfast was done, Capp and Tony made different flavor pancakes and waffles with bacon and sausage.
Kelly filled his plate which earned him a side eye from Stella. As they sat down to eat Boden entered the common room.
“Kelly, Stella, my office for a moment please.” Chief rarely interrupted breakfast time, knowing that they could be interrupted by a call at any moment. This had to be important. As they walked into Boden’s office, he signaled for them to close the door.
“What’s going on chief?” They asked in unison.
Boden sat back in his chair, “Kelly I just received a call from OFI. Seager will be stopping by shortly with some out of state Fire Investigator. She did not give me all the details, but you have specifically been asked to work on this case.”
Stella and Kelly shared a confused look. “Out of State? That’s not normal,” Stella piped up sounding concerned.
“It’s not normal, in fact it’s very rare. She didn’t give you any information Chief?” Kelly asked just as confused and concerned.
“No, she said it was a private matter and she would rather give you the details herself.” Chief said as he dismissed them back to breakfast.
Kelly racked his brain for any reason he would be asked to work on a case outside of Chicago and even more out of state. The two went back to eat breakfast where they ate silently. Thankfully shift was slow today, most of the calls being for ambo. Stella couldn’t help but remember the time she told Kelly Ambo got more calls in a shift than squad did when she was filling in for Dawson a few years back.
Seager arrives as everyone is getting back from their third call of the day. Kelly noticed the man with her and motioned them into the briefing room. Before heading into the firehouse Seager noticed Stella begin to walk away.
“Stella you’re going to want to hear this too. Please join us” Seager called out to her.
Stella once again gave Kelly a confused look but nevertheless joined her husband. Everyone was talking among themselves about what could be going on. Who was this man with Seager, and why was Stella getting involved with an OFI case as well? As they walked into the briefing room Seager started by introducing the man with her.
“Kelly, Stella, this is Captain Barns from Colorado. He was assigned an arson case that you specifically were asked to help with Kelly.” Seager made her introductions and let the man take over.
“Kelly, how do you know Katie Nolan?” Captain Barns asked as both Kelly and Stella shared a gasp and wide-eyed expression.
“That’s my sister. Why? What happened to her?” Kelly was worried the worst had happened. Stella reached over and held his hand as they received the next bit of news.
Captain Barns informs Kelly of what led him to Chicago. “Your sister’s restaurant was involved in a fire. We suspect arson, after speaking with Ms. Nolan, she asked that you come out and work on this case. She said she only trusts you to find out what happened to her restaurant.” Kelly and Stella were in total disbelief as they received this news.
“Our father was an arson investigator for years with the CFD. I have helped OFI and Lt Seager on multiple cases. I want to help my sister, but it might take some time to get furlough approved. Stella and I also have to discuss this together as well. Seeing as Katie is also Stella’s sister-in-law this affects her as well.” Kelly informed Captain Barns that he would get back to him by the end of shift. Captain Barns was also leaving to head back to Colorado tomorrow. He needed to let his team know whether to pursue this themselves or if they were waiting.
Seager didn’t miss how Kelly mentioned Katie being Stella’s sister now too. She noticed the rings on both of their hands and even though she did have a small thing for him she was happy for the couple.
“So, you two are married now. Congratulations to CFDs power couple” Seager stated before she left the firehouse with Captain Barns.
Stella decided to keep her thoughts to herself about Seager’s congratulations. Right now, their focus was on Katie. They went into Kelly’s office, closed the door, and pulled the blinds. Right now, Kelly needed to process this information he was just given. Someone had targeted his sister and he was going to get down to the bottom of it. Stella sat next to Kelly on his bed and placed her hand on the back of his neck like she always did to comfort him.
“Who would do this Stella? Katie is the sweetest person, and someone set fire to her restaurant. I want answers babe.” Kelly said getting pissed off the more he thought about it. Kelly got out his phone and called Katie. With the phone on speaker, he waited for Katie to answer.
“Hey Kelly.” Katie answered. “I’m assuming Captain Barns finally got there and spoke with you. Kelly, I’m sorry I didn’t call myself; I’ve been so overwhelmed out here. I meant what I told him. I don’t trust these people out here, I trust you.” Katie finished. Kelly didn’t know what to say.
“Katie, do you know anyone who would do this? Old employees?” Stella spoke up when Kelly couldn’t talk. Katie greeted Stella and told her she had no clue. She has had the same employees since she opened.
“Katie, I’m going to talk to Boden and get furlough approved. I want to catch the prick who did this.” Kelly told her as he looked over at Stella who just nodded in agreement. The three said their goodbyes and Stella just wrapped Kelly in a hug. They then headed to Boden’s office.
“Chief got a minute?” Kelly asked as they walked into his office. “Seager just left a few minutes ago. I had to take a minute to process everything before coming to you.” Kelly took a deep breath before continuing. Stella grabbed his hand in support, knowing this was extremely hard on him. “I need to ask for an extended furlough. The case I was asked specifically to work on involves Katie. She requested me personally to go out to Colorado. Chief, someone set her restaurant on fire. She doesn’t trust the OFI team out there to get to the bottom of it. Their Captain flew out here to speak with Seager and I and informed me of everything. I told him I would have an answer for him by end of shift. Chief, I need to do this.” When Kelly got done explaining everything Boden had crossed his desk and pulled Kelly into a hug.
“Katie is family Kelly. She always will be. I will put in for your furlough and expedite it. Let’s go make the announcement. We won’t go into details, but we will just tell everyone you are being assigned to an OFI case out of state.” Chief said as he led them to the common room. They made the announcement and told them everything would most likely go into effect next shift. Cruz would be acting Lt until they can get a floater.
“I know this is something you must do babe. I am going to miss you like crazy while you’re gone. Go catch who did this to our family. I love you with everything I’ve got.” Stella told Kelly as they went back to his office. Stella laughed before adding, “hey this will give us the opportunity to have some nice phone sex.” Kelly laughed and smiled as he agreed with her knowing there was no doubt about that.
After they returned from a late-night call Boden informed Kelly his furlough had been approved. Kelly called Captain Barns and told him he would come out, but he wanted Lt Seager to help him. Captain Barns agreed, and Kelly called Seager to update her. Seager agreed to work on this case with Kelly. This would be the last night Stella and Kelly spent together. He was going to catch the first flight out to Colorado the next day. Stella slept in Kelly’s bunk that night as they both hoped for a night with no calls. They really didn’t want their last night together for a while in to interrupted.