Chicago Fire FanFic (English)

Chapter 53

The next morning, when Caleb was the first of the kids to come into the kitchen, Kelly and Matt were about to leave the house. "Hey, good morning. How are you?" Matt asked. "Better." Caleb said, yawning. "Listen. Take your time and if you need space, you can always come by." Kelly said. "Why are you up already? It's 7:20 and it's Sunday." Matt said. "Do you honestly think Mocha would care?" Caleb asked, pointing at his pup, who was pacing nervously in place. "Are you taking Spiky and Filou with you too?" Stella asked. "Sure." Caleb said, walking into the living room. "I don't think those two wants to come with me." Caleb said, putting on his winter jacket. He got Mocha's leash and left the house with Matt and Kelly. "Shall I get something for breakfast?" Caleb asked. "I don't think so. Yesterday we bought everything." Stella said and Sylvie nodded in agreement. Caleb put Mocha on the leash and Stella closed the door. Kelly and Matt got into Matt's pickup truck and drove off. Caleb walked up and down the street with Mocha. "How is it looking? Are you done?" Caleb asked. Mocha looked at him, tail wagging. "Good. I'll take that as a yes. Then let's go home or I'll freeze here." Caleb said.

At home, Stella and Sylvie prepared breakfast. "I'm back." Caleb said, letting Mocha off the leash. "Good morning, Caleb. Are you awake already?" Aiko asked, coming into the kitchen with Oakley in her arms. "Yes. I've even been outside with Mocha already." Caleb said. "Isn't it too cold?" Aiko asked. "Yes, but do you think the puppies care?" Caleb asked. Then Elyas came into the kitchen with Jason in his arms. "Good morning." Elyas said. "Good morning." Sylvie said and took Jason from him. Stella checked on Crystal and Lydia and Aiko and Elyas helped Caleb set the table. When the other kids came into the kitchen, they sat together at the table and had breakfast. After breakfast the kids went into the living room and watched TV while the adults cleaned up the kitchen. Caleb was sitting in the chair playing on his phone when he was nudged. In front of him sat the three puppies. "What is it?" Caleb asked. The three puppies barked. "I think they need to get out." Andrew said. "Come on then." Caleb said, standing up. "Where are you going?" Stella asked. "Now Spiky and Filou have to go, too." Caleb said, getting dressed. "Good. But don't go too far. It's supposed to be pretty stormy today." Stella said. "I wanted to go see Dad." Caleb said. "Good. I'll call him and let him know you're coming. And depending on the weather, you stay there." Stella said. "Ok." Caleb said and left the house. Caleb went to the subway station and drove to the firehouse. Once there, the boys from rescue squad sat at their table and Gallo and Ritter checked the equipment. «Hey. Look who's stopping by again." Cruz said. Caleb unleashed the three puppies. "I was last here about 2 months ago." Caleb said. "How are you?" Gallo asked. "Good." Caleb said. "How did your two au pairs settle in?" Ritter asked. "Very good. I mean they just landed on Friday night and they're still a bit shy but the little ones are very fond of them already." Caleb said. "And what about you three big ones?" Cruz asked. "Believe me. We feel the same way. They are both really amazing and we look forward to spending the next 12 months with them." Caleb said. Mocha barked and turned in circles. "And Mocha too, of course." Caleb said, and everyone laughed. "By the way, your dad is in his office." Ritter said. "Yes, thanks. I'll leave the three here for a moment. But it seems Tuesday has it all figured out." Caleb said. Tuesday barked in agreement. "He looks better than he did a few months ago." Tony said. The others looked at each other. "I think knowing that he's no longer in full responsibility took the burden off him." Gallo said. Caleb went to his dad's office. "Hey Dad." Caleb said, leaning against the door frame. «Hey big one. Stella called that you're coming." Kelly said. Caleb took off his jacket and sat on the bed. "Are you all, right?" Kelly asked. "I'm not ready yet." Caleb said. "That's Ok. You have her number, just write her that you need some more time. Or should I do that?" Kelly asked, looking at his son. Caleb pulled out his phone and showed him the message he already wrote her. Kelly looked at the chat history. "She seems to understand." Kelly said. "And yet she's trying to make me feel bad." Caleb said. "You told her you needed a little time and you'd get back to her. You just have to ignore everything else." Kelly said and handed him the phone back. Caleb nodded. Then the alarm went off. "Listen. We'll talk again when I get back, okay?" Kelly asked. Caleb nodded. Kelly smiled, gave him a quick kiss on the head and ran outside. When Caleb walked into the common room, Herrmann and his team were sitting in front of the TV watching the news. "Hey K. What's new with you?" Ritter asked. "Not much. Just found out yesterday that I have a half-brother." Caleb said and sat down with the others. Herrmann and Ritter looked at him. "What do you mean, half-brother?" Herrmann asked. "What do you think I mean? Renee apparently had a boy about 6 or 7 months ago. He's now living with his adoptive parents who just moved down our street." Caleb said. "Coincidence?" Ritter asked. "No. They researched and found out about me and my story and now they thought I should meet him." Caleb said. When a new face walked into the common room, Caleb was momentarily irritated. "This is Jason Pelham, by the way. He also just moved to Chicago and today is his first day with us." Herrmann said. "This is one of Kelly's children." Ritter said. "One of Kelly's children. Well, then, Kelly's eldest child." Caleb said. "Hi. I am pleased to meet you. I'm Jason." Pelham said. "Same to you. My name is Caleb." Caleb said. "Do you have any siblings in that case?" Pelham asked. "Yes. 12." Caleb said. "12 siblings?!" Pelham asked. "Yes. No. I have 4 siblings. 1 brother and 3 sisters. We live with Matt and Sylvie. The two have 8 children. But they're all like siblings to me." Caleb explained. "It's nice to have such a large family." Pelham said. "Most of the time yes. Sometimes a curse too." Caleb said. "Hey. Something's coming our way." Herrmann said and pointed to the television. "Turn it up." Ritter said. Herrmann turned up the volume on the TV and everyone stared at the screen. "Hey, what's up?" Gallo asked when they got back. Caleb pointed to the TV, which was showing the weather news. "Oh man. That looks really bad." Gallo said. "What's going on?" Kelly asked. "Snowstorm. And not a 'normal' snowstorm that we have every year. It could end worse this time." Ritter said. "I think I'd better go home now." Caleb said. "You can stay here." Matt said. "I know that. But if this blizzard really gets as bad as the news says, I'd rather be home." Caleb said. At the same time, Kelly got a message from Stella. "Maybe you are right. Stella just wrote. The schools have already been closed as a precaution. Classes will take place at home for the next 2-3 weeks. Also, for Elyas and Aiko." Kelly informed. "Maybe it's better if Caleb goes home after all." Matt said. "Yes, I think so, too. Come on, K, get your jacket. I'll drive you home." Kelly said. Caleb nodded, got his jacket from Kelly's office, put the puppies on the leash and left the station with Kelly. On the drive home, Kelly and Caleb saw lines forming outside the supermarkets and malls. "Oh man. You'd think the apocalypse was coming." Kelly said. «Mmmm. I think I'll place an order online when I get home so we'll have enough supplies for at least a few weeks." Caleb said. Kelly bit back a laugh. "What?" Caleb asked. "Caleb. You do like the ones standing in line right now. Listen. It's just a blizzard." Kelly said. Then Caleb's phone vibrated. "Maybe you're right." Caleb said. "I know." Kelly said. "Mom wrote. Elyas, Aiko, Andrew and Julian went shopping together and bought enough supplies for the next few weeks." Caleb said. Kelly pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of the front door. "Be careful." Caleb said. "I always do." Kelly said, kissing him. Caleb got out of the car and Kelly drove back to the station. Caleb closed the front door. "I'm home." he said. "Kayab." Benjamin shouted, running into Caleb's arms. "Hey, Caleb." Aiko said. Aiko, Benjamin and Matty were playing a board game. "Hey, Aiko. Where's Mom?" Caleb asked. "Upstairs." Aiko said. "Kayab, are you playing with us?" Matty asked. "Later." Caleb said, going upstairs. Caleb went into his parents' bedroom and found Stella snuggled on the bed with the twins and Lydia. "Are you alright?" Caleb asked. "Yes, everything alright. Oakley and Crystal were just a little nervous." Stella said. "They both know something is coming." Caleb said and sat down on the bed. "Kiki." Lydia said, crawling onto Caleb's lap. "Where are the others?" Caleb asked. "Jason was also a bit restless. Aunt Sylvie is in her room with him. Kayla and Layla are in their room and Andrew, Julian, Levi, Hayden and Elyas are in the basement playroom." Stella said. "Ok. Then I say hello to the others and then I'm in the living room with Aiko, Benny and Matty." Caleb said. "Is good. Oh Caleb, could you do us one more favor?" Stella asked. "Sure. What is it?" Caleb asked. "Elyas and Aiko's lessons also take place online. Elyas and Aiko still need laptops. You're so technically gifted. Would it be possible for you to buy the laptops and other things with them and then also help with the installation?" Stella asked. "Of course. We'd better go right now. Dad drove me home. On the drive home, we saw lines already forming at the supermarkets and malls, a few meters long." Caleb said. "You are the best. Come here." Stella said and took him in her arms. "I'll take Lydia with me so you can rest a little." Caleb said. "Did I say you're the best?" Stella asked. "You do. I love you." Caleb said, kissing her. "Love you too." Stella said. Caleb left the room with Lydia. Caleb said hello to Sylvie and told her he was going to the mall again with Aiko, Elyas, and Lydia. Caleb went back downstairs and told Aiko and Elyas. The 4 got ready and drove to the mall. "The supermarkets and clothes shops are full of people, but the other shops are almost empty." Elyas remarked. "Yeah, that's because people are panicking that they won't have anything to eat or wear once the blizzard hits Chicago." Caleb said. They went to the electronics store and were greeted by an employee. Caleb explained what they needed and the employee showed them different models. Aiko and Elyas opted for Samsung laptops and Caleb bought 2 Canon printers. Back home, Caleb helped them set up the laptops and printers and set them up with all the important apps, such as Zoom or Microsoft Office. After everything was set up, they went downstairs. Elyas and Aiko prepared dinner and the kids played board games in the living room.