Chicago Fire FanFic (English)

Chapter 48

Christmas Day

"Mommy, Daddy wake up. It's Christmas." Benjamin said excitedly, jumping up and down on their bed. "Good morning." Stella said. "Good morning, Mommy." Benjamin said, lying in bed with them. "Are the others up too?" Kelly asked. Benjamin shook his head. "Who else is sleeping?" Stella asked. "Just you two and Kayab." Benjamin said. "I'm awake." Caleb's voice came through the walls. "Kayab's awake." Benjamin said, climbing out of bed. "Wait. Not so stormy. At least give him some time to get ready." Stella said. "Thanks, Mom." came Caleb's voice again. Kelly and Stella smiled. "All right. Can we open presents?" Benjamin asked. "Give us five minutes, okay?" Stella asked. "Okay, Mommy." Benjamin said, running out of the room and colliding with Caleb in the hallway. "Sorry Kayab." Benjamin said. "Mom, Dad, I'm not feeling well." Caleb said in a raspy voice. "Yes, we hear that." Stella said and Kelly walked over to him. "You feel a little hot. Come on, sit down on the bed." Kelly said, went into the bathroom and got the clinical thermometer. "I'm hot too." Caleb joked and coughed. "What's going on?" Stella asked. "I don't know. My throat hurts and I feel a bit weak." Caleb said. Kelly takes Caleb's temperature. "No, you don't have a fever." Kelly said. "How much?" Stella asked. "36.9°C." Kelly said. "Are you coming?" Andrew asked, now standing in the doorway. "Yes, we'll be right there. Otherwise, you can start already." Stella said. "OK. Are you all, right?" Andrew asked. "Yes, everything fine. Caleb just doesn't feel very well." Stella said. "Oh no. Okay, I'll tell the others you'll come down in a minute." Andrew said. "Thanks, bud." Kelly said. Andrew nodded and went back downstairs. "You want to go back to bed?" Stella asked. "No, I'll do it." Caleb said. "Alright then, come. I'll make you some tea." Stella said. Caleb got his snuggle blanket and the stuffed snow leopard that his family brought him from the zoo in Zurich and went downstairs to the living room. "Hey, how are you feeling?" Sylvie asked. Caleb shrugged and sat on the couch, snuggling into the blanket. Stella brought him his tea and sat down next to him. They watched the little ones unwrap their presents. "Kiki." Lydia said, holding out a gift to Caleb. Caleb opened a corner of the present and handed it back to Lydia. "Daddy does." Lydia said. "Well, give it to me then." Kelly said, opening the gift. "Baby." Lydia said excitedly as a baby doll appeared. Kelly gave her the doll and Lydia hugged her tightly. Lydia got off the couch and played with her doll on the floor. "It seems someone's already finished unwrapping presents." Stella said. The boys got lots of new toy cars and Hot Wheels trains, Andrew and Julian got new Lego sets from Lego Technic and Lego City and the girls got Barbie dolls, a Barbie dream house and Lego Friends sets. Lydia's unopened gifts included clothes for the baby doll, a fully furnished play kitchen and a backyard playhouse. "Caleb, won't you open your presents?" Andrew asked. "Man, you might look bad." Julian said. Caleb glared at him and coughed. "You really don't sound good." Stella said, touching his forehead again. "Now he's glowing." she said. Kelly got the clinical thermometer from the bathroom and measured again. "39.4°C." Kelly said. "Maybe we should take him to the doctor." Matt suggested. "Mommy's a doctor." Matty said. "Not quite. Me and Aunt Violet are just making sure people get to the doctor in one piece." Sylvie explained. "Isn't that the same?" Layla asked. "No. We can't tell what's wrong with people when we take them to the doctor. We are, so to speak, the people who make sure, the doctors don't run out of work." Sylvie said. "Then you have to take Kayab to the doctor." Benjamin said. Even Caleb couldn't help but smile at that statement. "Yeah, otherwise he won't get there in one piece." Kayla said. "I'm sure Uncle Kelly and Aunt Stella will take Caleb to the doctor just as well as I do." Sylvie said. The little ones looked down, embarrassed. "I'll call at Med." Kelly said, pulling out his phone. "Need help?" Stella asked. Caleb shook his head and coughed again. Caleb got dressed and Stella got him a scarf from his room. Kelly got the car keys, they got in the car and drove to the Med.

When they got home 2 hours later, the little ones were playing in theliving room and Andrew and Julian were helping the others in the kitchen toprepare dinner. «Hey. And? Whatdid they say?" Stella asked. "Calebhas an angina." Kelly said. "Ohno. And that on Christmasday." Stella said. Kellyplaced the bag of medication on the kitchen counter and sat on an empty stool. WhenCaleb came into the kitchen, he got a water from the fridge and threw out thebag. Kelly gave him anantibiotic pill. "Okay, now you goto bed." Kelly said. "CanI watch TV?" Caleb asked hoarsely. "Aslong as you stay in bed." Kelly said. "Allright. And what about mypresents?" Caleb asked, coughing. "Don'tworry. They're still under theChristmas tree, waiting for you to feel better." Stella smiled and kissedhim. Caleb went upstairs tohis room, got into bed and tuned in to 'Formula 1 – Drive to survive' onNetflix. "But he's alreadylooking better than he did this morning." Sylvie said. "Hehad 2 Infusion." Kelly said. "Bythe way, we got news from our advisor from Babysitting worldwide." Sylviesaid. "Ah yes. So?"Kelly asked. "They found twoyoung adults." Stella said. "Really?"Kelly asked. "Yes. Andit's going to be very quick now. Wehave to let them know by Tuesday if we're ready for them to move in at the endof January." Stella said. "LateJanuary already. Wow, that's going reallyfast now." Kelly said. "Butwe're actually set up so far, the rooms are ready. We just have to make thebeds and maybe vacuum the rooms again." Sylvie said. "Wecan do that." Andrew said. "We'llsee how Caleb is doing before then." Stella said. "Doyou still have to take the dogs out?" Kelly asked. "Wealready are. Right after youleft." Julian said. "Whattime are the guests coming?" Andrew asked. Andrewhad hardly finished speaking when the doorbell rang. "Now."Stella said. "Nana."Benjamin called excitedly and ran out of the living room. Kellyopened the door. Outside were Sylvie'sparents, Julie and Scott, and her little sister, Amelia. "Heyguys, come in." Kelly said. Benjaminand Amelia hugged in greeting. "Hey,are we late?" Scott asked. "No,you're the first." Kelly said, taking Julie's coat off. "Really?"Julie asked in surprise. NowSylvie came along and greeted her parents and little sister. "Andyou two must be Andrew and Julian." Julie said, hugging them both. "Andyou two are Levi and Hayden, right?" Scott asked as the youngest came intothe hallway. Levi and Hayden noddedshyly and hid behind their older brothers. "Where'sCaleb?" Julie asked. "Upstairsin his room." Kelly said. "Kayabis ill." Benjamin said. "Ohno. What's the matter withhim?' Scott asked. "Agnia." Benjamin said. "Angina."Kelly said. "I told you so."Benjamin protested. "Ohmy. Bad?" Julie asked. "Whenhe got up, he just had a bit of a sore throat and felt weak. In thecourse of the morning, he developed a fever. Themed then diagnosed moderate angina." Kelly explained. "He'sa poor guy." Scott said. "Howis he otherwise?" Julie asked. "Inever thought I'd say this, but otherwise he's doing really well." Kellysaid. "We're glad to hearthat." Scott said. "I'llsee how he's doing." Stella said and went upstairs. Sheknocked on Caleb's door and entered. Caleblay in bed, wrapped up tightly, and slept with the television still on. Stellaturned off the TV, sat on the bed and stroked his hair. "Mhmm,what is it?" Caleb asked, half asleep. "Hey,how are you?" Stella asked, smiling at him. "Alittle better." Caleb said, still hoarse. "Doyou need anything?" Stella asked. "Canyou make me some more tea?" Caleb asked. "Ofcourse." Stella said, kissing him. "Thanks,Mom." Caleb said, snuggling back into the blanket. "Sohow is he?" Matt asked when Stella came back into the kitchen. "Alittle better. I'll make him anothercup of tea now." Stella said and switched on the kettle. Stellabrought Caleb his tea, a water and another sore throat pill. Meanwhile,Kelly and Katie's mom Jennifer, Matt's sister Christie and niece Violet, andStella's parents Laura and John, as well as her older brothers Malik and Carterhave also arrived. Theysat together in the living room and watched the kids unwrap their presents. "Daddy,when does Kayab open his presents?" Benjamin asked. "Assoon as he's better." Kelly said. Thenthe puppies start barking excitedly. "Soundslike we're going to have a visitor" Matt said, looking toward the livingroom entrance. Less than 2 secondslater Caleb came into the living room. «Hey. Howare you?" Jennifer asked. "Better."Caleb said, sitting down on the couch. "Youlook bad." Andrew grinned. "Shutup." Caleb said. "Boys,it's Christmas." Stella said. "Sorry,"Caleb said. "Me too."Andrew said. "It's okay."Stella said. "Mommy, look. Itlooks like me." Matty said, showing her the Funko Pop figure. "That'scool. Who is it from?" Sylvieasked. "Nana JeJe."Matty said. "Where did you getthese from?" Matt asked. "Thedaughter of a friend makes it herself. So, Ifigured that would make a great Christmas present." Jennifer said. "Whatdo you say?" Sylvie asked. "Thanks."Matty said, hugging Jennifer. "You'rewelcome, darling." Jennifer smiled. "Isthat why you asked for recent photos of the kids?" Stella asked. Jennifernodded. While the kids playedwith their Christmas presents, the adults went into the kitchen and startedpreparing dinner. "Haveyou guys heard anything about babysitting?" Laura asked. "Yes. Wereceived an email today that they have found 2 young adults who could be a goodfit for our family." Stella said. "That'sgreat. Do you know anythingabout them yet?" Scott asked. "No,not yet. We haven't reconfirmedyet. We wanted to see howCaleb is first." Stella said. "Whencould they move in with you?" Malik asked. "LateJanuary." Kelly said. "Nice. Andwhen do you have to let them know?" Carter asked. "OnTuesday." Matt said. "Mommy,Kayab is sleeping." Benjamin said, tugging at Stella's shirt. "Yeah,let him sleep." Stella said. "That he can sleep with all that noise."Carter laughed. "He sleeps soundly. Thereare days when I can't get him out of bed in the morning." Kelly said. ThenViolet came into the kitchen with a crying Lydia. "Hey,what happened?" Stella asked, hugging Lydia. "Shehit her head on the edge of the table handing Matty a toy car." Violetexplained. "Awe, my poor girl."Stella said, kissing her daughter's forehead. "Itseems someone woke up." John said. Calebwalked into the kitchen, wrapped tightly in his blanket. "Howare you?" Julie asked. "Muchbetter. But my throat stillhurts." Caleb said, getting a water from the fridge. Kellygave him another pill. "Whatis actually doing in training. Haveyou taken the soccer world by storm yet?" Carter joked. "Idon't play anymore." Caleb said. "Whynot?" Jennifer asked. "Longstory." Caleb said, coughing. "I'llgive you the short version. Caleband his two forward partners were relegated to the substitutes' bench. Theyweren't even allowed to train anymore." Kelly explained. "Whyis that?" Laura asked. "Becausewe got a new coach after the summer holidays. Hetook his two sons with him and put us on the bench." Caleb said. "He'salso a lot more relaxed now than he was a few months ago." Stella said. "Istill have an offer for the ISA, which is headquartered in Dubai." Calebsaid. "What is the ISA?"Christie asked. "The International SoccerAcademy." Caleb said. "That'sgreat." Scott said. "Didyou accept?" Malik asked. "Notyet. I can make a last-minutedecision." Caleb said. "Mommy,it's snowing. Can we play outside?"Kayla asked. "Of course. Butdress warmly and you'll stay in the garden." Sylvie said. Thelittle ones put on their winter clothes and went outside. Violet,Andrew and Julian stayed inside and helped the adults with the preparations. "Haveyou opened the present Santa gave you at the mall?" Andrew asked. Calebshook his head. "Whatpresent?" John asked. "Wewent to the mall yesterday to see Santa and Caleb got a little present from him."Julian said. "Okay." Johnsaid, impressed. "That was pretty scarybecause he knew exactly what I've been through this year." Caleb said. "Well,Santa knows everything, too." Malik said. "Istopped believing in Santa when I found out when I was 5 that they put all theChristmas presents under the tree." Caleb said, and everyone laughed. Afterthe preparations, Katie started cooking. Caleblay down a bit more and Andrew, Julian and Violet helped set the table. Wheneverything was ready, Stella got the little ones in and Kelly woke Caleb up. Theysat together in the conservatory and enjoyed Christmas dinner together.