Something New

Part 20 : Go ahead

And it's like Severide's heart broke right after hearing what Stella had just said. And her face wasn't showing any emotions.

"You're playing with me right?" He asked a bit emotional "did you leave to be with him?"

"no i am not, and i left to be with myself. Think a little bit"

"Why don't I believe you" he asked.

"I-"

But as she was about to reply back to him a call came through for ambo, she left and just gave him a look.

She also didn't know what to tell Mills, she knew he would have questions. But she just didn't know how to handle it all, they took care of their call and on the way back. Mills asked.

"Are you okay?"

"i am" she looked at him with sad eyes. "I've missed you"

And since Mills was just stirring the wheel with one hand, she grabbed his other hand very hard and gave him a look. That was her way of somehow telling him she was not okay and that she needed help but with no words. Mills knew her body language and so he didn't say a thing just offered her a smile. They arrived at the firehouse, and Stella felt a relief squad wasn't there.

She took a quick moment and went in the locker room. She couldn't handle anything, and just seeing everyone again just made her weak. Kelly's kiss, and so much more she knew Mills had understood what she meant when she squeezed his hand. But she wanted to see if she could do more, so in an impulse she called her dad.

"Hello" he answered the phone.

"Hey Dad, it's me Stella"

"Baby girl, where are you? Are you okay? Why did you leave?"

"I'm at the firehouse, i-"

But she was unable to say much more when a call came through, so she hung up and left.

To her big surprise when she came back, she found her dad there.

"What are you doing here?" She asked a bit on edge.

"I came to see you, i needed to see you. And see why you left all of a sudden, where did you go. You don't even have a place, tell me"

"Because i needed time, we're in a hotel for now. The girls are fine and currently with a nanny i guess i just wanted to see you dad. That's all"

"Stella!" He said demanding.

"No it's true, come here" she decided to give him a hug.

"I don't know if i want to believe you"

But he decided to hug her anyway. He felt the hugged was stronger than before, Stella actually needed it. She knew she could have called her mom, but she preferred somehow calling him. She stayed there in the comfort of her dad's arm for a bit and then separated herself from him.

"I'm good ok don't worry, go on about your day"

He decided to believe her even though it was hard for him to do so. He then left the firehouse thoughtful and went straight to see Melina, he knew something was off. Stella was both simultaneously scared and a bit happy, everyone weirdly knew something was off. And while she knew maybe they'd find out what was really happening, she also was scared of the things Manuel could do.

The rest of shift was just her thinking and being worried. She didn't know what to expect after the visit from her dad but also from Kelly. Thankfully the whole shift was pretty busy for everyone. And Stella barely had any time to see Kelly and confront him again, she knew she'd break if she had to. It was time for Manuel to pick her up, she started leaving the firehouse. And then someone grabbed her arm, it was Kelly.