Danger Zone (File One of The First Responders Files)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Did you know that when you write as amazing a chapter as the last one was, you feel pretty pressured to deliver that much amazing in the next one? XD Sorry it took me a while to get this out, I had no idea how to measure up to last chapter. Then I realized I didn't have to, I can always attempt to one-up myself later on. Voila, temporary writer's block fixed!

Kelly comes to terms with something we've all known about (Owen's figured it out, too), Buck and Eddie talk with each other as well as Christopher, their kid is a national treasure, group chats are created, and plans are hatched. But, of course, moments of peace don't last forever when it comes to these shows.

Enjoy!

***

Being a first responder in a firehouse and working a 24-hour shift meant sleep schedules could constantly be out of whack. That also meant first responders were soon hardwired to be light sleepers. Even the smallest sound could wake one, so getting up with the bells was easy.

So when Buttercup let out a soft bark in the morning, Kelly started awake. He blinked three times to get the sleep out of his eyes, then heard Buttercup bark again. He frowned, about to sit up and quiet the dog himself when he heard Owen hiss at the dog. Buttercup quieted instantly, and Kelly waited to hear the door to the backyard open and shut before he opened his eyes again to check the living room. Owen had stepped out with Buttercup, leaving just him . . . and the two he loved.

That thought still made his head spin.

The body next to him shifted slightly, and a smile automatically formed on Kelly's face, just like one always did as he looked down at Sylvie. The paramedic was bundled in layers of blankets, and she had burrowed into them and her pillow. It was one of the times he had seen her look this peaceful, with her face at ease and her hair fanned out on her pillow.

Of course, that probably had to do with the fact her back was practically pasted to Matt's chest.

Kelly propped himself up on his forearm, looking past the paramedic captain to the fire captain at her back, his arm still snug around her waist. It said how well Kelly knew the man that he could identify the miniscule furrow in Matt's face that meant he was gonna be waking up with a headache. God, if Kelly knew his best friend that well, how had he gone so long without realizing he was in love with the other man? Hell, he was pretty sure Andy had tried playing matchmaker with them while they were in the academy!

The door to the backyard opening made Kelly turn, and Buttercup walked back into the house, beelining right for the lieutenant. "Hey, boy," Kelly whispered, scratching Buttercup behind his ears.

"Morning, Severide," Owen smiled as he shut the door behind him. "Want a coffee?"

"Is it a regular one and not made with a fancy machine?" Kelly raised an eyebrow.

Owen rolled his eyes. "No one appreciates style nowadays," he muttered, heading for the kitchen.

Kelly shook his head fondly, climbing out from the pile of blankets. He left Matt and Sylvie asleep, then followed Owen into the kitchen. He paused, watching Buttercup plop onto the ground where he had just been, and he snickered, joining Owen at the counter. "Tuesday has competition for best dog."

"Well, since I haven't met Tuesday, I have to say it's Buttercup," Owen shrugged, getting to work on the coffee. Someone must have advocated for a regular coffee maker, at some point, which Owen started. "Hard to believe TK originally didn't want him when Buttercup obviously had his favorite right off the bat."

"TK didn't like him?" Kelly asked in surprise. Owen gave him a pointed look, and Kelly remembered what had been shared when they first met the dog. "Right . . . the cancer."