Chicago Fire: Burning Bright

Serpentine Fire

Chapter 57 Firestarter

Cally was sitting on a couch in the living room, with her nieces and nephews around and on top of her when Clarke and Connor finally came back inside.

"Brodie, Keira, let Aunt Cally breathe, would ya?" Connor said to his two youngest, who immediately complied, their cousins reluctantly following.

She looked from her brother to her husband, wondering what the talk had been about, both men neutral faced and not giving any hints. "Alright, you guys, we gotta go, it's a school night," she said, rising from the couch and ignoring the protests of her family. "I promise, it won't be so long next time," she said with a smile.

"And you'll bring your wedding photos?" Hayley asked, an eager look on her teenaged face, her cousin Moira batting eyelashes right beside her, "yes, please, Aunt Cally?"

"You two were there," Cally replied.

"At the wedding, not after!" Hayley protested, the younger set still not over their reception at Molly's meaning the under-21 set couldn't join in.

"Fine, I'll round some up," Cally said, catching sight of Brodie running across the room, gesturing for Clarke to bend down.

She watched as Brodie whispered something in his ear and at Jeff's nod and half-smile, stiffening for a second as Brodie threw his skinny arms around him. But she immediately relaxed as he gave a quick squeeze back and ruffled his hair. She melted as Brodie followed up with, "awesome, can't wait, Uncle Jeff!" and her husband grinned happily in return.

"Well get to going, you two. I'll walk you out," Mary Margaret said, ushering her daughter toward the front door, Clarke following behind. She half-strangled them with hugs at the door, looking at them each and shaking her finger, "if we don't start seeing more of you both down here, I'll pack up this lot and leave them on your doorstep."

"We got it, ma," Cally said, giving her mother another hug, "I love you and thank you," she said, patting at her bag.

"I love you too, my darling girl," Mary Margaret replied, squeezing Clarke's arm, "watch this one, she is too stubborn for her own good!"

"I'm aware," Clarke replied with a smirk.

"And take care of each other. Get home safe," she said, ushering them out into the night.

They were almost home, enjoying the quiet of just the two of them in the car, when Clarke remarked, "for a small woman, your mother has a tight grip."

Cally laughed, "that was nothing, you should feel it when she's pissed. I think she about took all of our ears off at one time or another. I probably should show my face more."

"We should," he replied, reaching over and squeezing her knee.

"So what can't my nephew wait for? And please keep in mind he is only eleven!"

Clarke snorted, "your job really makes you optimistic. I promised I would play chess with him. Apparently nobody else will except Cullen and Brodie is tired of beating him."

He waited until they were inside before asking, "speaking of tight grips, how was the chat with your mother?"

"How do you know I had a chat with my mother?" Cally asked, failing at looking innocent.

"Gee, I don't know Cailin Marie Callahan," he teased. "I think that was part of the reason Connor took me out back."

"Be glad he didn't shoot you," she quipped, "I'll tell you about my chat if you tell me about yours."

"Sounds like the worst game of I'll show you mine, babe," he said, pulling her in for a kiss.

"Oh we don't have to play such games, Jeffrey," she teased, one hand untucking his shirt as the other started unbuttoning her own.