Chicago Fire FanFic (English)

Chapter 22

"Well then, choose something. What do you want to play?" Caleb asked, opening his video game box. "Wow, you have a lot of video games." Andrew marveled. «Yes, but I'm not a gambler. I can only offer you sports games, but all kinds of consoles." Caleb said. "Do you have NBA 2K22 for the PS5?" Julian asked. "Of course." Caleb grinned, pulling out his box of PS5 games. He gave both a controller and started the game. "May I ask you something?" Julian asked. «Yes of course. What's up?" Caleb asked. "Why do you call your mom Stella?" Julian asked. "Stella is my stepmother. She and my dad got married when I was 7." Caleb said. "And what about your birth mother?" Andrew asked. "She ran off with her boyfriend when I was a baby. She left me in the apartment and if the neighbors hadn't been so quick to react, I might not be alive now." Caleb explained. "Our mom ran away, too." Andrew said. "And your dad?" Caleb asked. "Died in a car accident when Hayden was 6 months old." Andrew said. "I'm sorry." Caleb said. "After that, nothing was the same." Julian added. "Want to talk about it?" Caleb asked, pausing the game. "After our dad died, our mother fell into a deep hole. She started drinking and just wouldn't come home overnight." Andrew said. "Andy always took care of us. Made us dinner and helped me with my homework." Julian said. "Now we know what your dad meant when he said we should live with someone who understands our situation." Andrew said. "Who are the two people in these pictures?" Julian asked. "My grandpa. He died of a stroke when I was 2. He and my grandmother always looked after me when the others were working." Caleb explained. "And her?" Julian asked. "Her name was Leslie. She was my dad's best friend and Aunt Sylvie's partner on the ambulance." Caleb said. "Was?" Andrew asked cautiously. Caleb nodded and took a deep breath. "She died in the line of duty when I was four. That's why I'm the only one with a single room." Caleb explained with tears in his eyes. Andrew and Julian put their hands on Caleb's shoulders. "Back then we lived in a smaller apartment and Leslie and I shared a room. After her death, I didn't want anyone in the room. Even Dad wasn't allowed in." Caleb said, wiping the tears from his face. "It's kind of understandable. I mean you lost your grandfather and roommate within 2 years." Andrew said. Then there was a knock on the door and Stella came into the room with Lydia in her arms. "Hey, what's going on here?" Stella asked. "Nothing at all. It's fine." Caleb said. "Are you sure?" Stella asked. Caleb nodded. "Well, Aunt Sylvie has gone with the little ones to buy everything for dinner. We would make pizza ourselves tonight, Aunt Sylvie has already made the dough for it." Stella informed. "Aunt Sylvie makes the best pizza dough in the world." Caleb explained. "Now listen. Your dad still called. Does the name Marcus White mean anything to you?" Stella asked. "Yes of course. But he works in child welfare." Caleb said. "Youth Welfare Office! We thought we could stay here for now." Andrew said. "You can too, I promise. He just wants to talk to you guys." Stella said. "Can I talk to you privately for a moment?" Caleb asked. "Sure." Stella said. "You can keep playing." Caleb said, walking out the door with Stella.