Reassure (Jay Halstead x OC.)

12

Three weeks later

Lip
So has cop guy got an address or?

Rei
Cop guy? And yeah, sorry. It's ################# yk the one on the corner of the L station?

Lip
Yeah thanks. Debbie seems to be desperate to come see you. Think her and Liam are missing you a lot. He keeps asking "where Rei?"

Rei
Tell them they can come over any time I'm not working or if they wanna stop by the firehouse for lunch or dinner one night they can feel free. Jay says hi btw.

Lip
Glad your "not boyfriend" cop buddy says hi, tell him I say hi back.

Rei
Yeah yeah. Let me know if you guys are gonna come visit. Love you.

Lip
Will do, love you too.

-.-.-.-.-.-

"So you passed the physical and the beep test. Doctors note looks good.....your mental health record looks good.....you still on any medication?"

Reign shuck her head at the man, her braided and bun-tied back hair barley moving with all the gel she put in it to keep her curls in check that morning.

"Nothing but the previous- the uh...." She awkwardly coughed, "the pill Sir."
"Ah yes....well Firefighter Gallagher, I guess you're all squared and ready to head back in onto duty. Do you feel ready?"
"More then anything commissioner." She nodded enthusiastically a giant smile starting to form on her face.

"Glad to hear it." He nodded at her. "You take care now Gallagher, no more blow backs.....and you tell Chief Boden I said hello."
"I will, thank you sir." She stood up with him and graciously took his extended hand in her own, giving him a firm handshake with her once "bad" arm as if she was further punctuating her full recovery.

"Bye." She smiled, once more a grateful grin before she all but danced out of the office.

Rei
I got the green light! Full time duty! I passed every physical! X

Jay
Well done! We need to celebrate. See you at home tonight. Please be safe this time. X

Rei
I will, I promise. See you at ten. X

Jay
See you at ten x

-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"Well well well look what the cat dragged in!" Hermann clapped as he spotted Reign making her way into the mess. The whole house snapped their necks to look at her.

"I....I-."

She looked down feigning heartbreak.

They all looked almost abrasive for her to speak. Eyes and hearts sank.

"I PASSED! I'M BACK ON FULL TIME DUTY!"

"REIGN MARIE GALLAGHER! You gave me a heart attack!" Sylvie was the first to attack her in a bear hug, followed by Casey who was closest then Kelly who squeezed her supportively around the middle as he lifted her up making her gasp out a chuckle.

Otis and Mouch hugged her next then came Cruz and Dawson. Hermann have her the longest hug. A fatherly grip and embrace that made her feel at home once more.

She pulled away. Then a new face appeared in her line of sight, a face that made her tilt her head slightly confused. "Hi, i'm Stella.....I'm new on Squad."

"Oh....you filled in for me-."
"No Gallagher yours spots still open, more funding from the city- we got a new squad. No one stole your seat." Kelly stepped forward again to assure her, but Reign's face seemed to still be low. "Rei, serious no one was gonna replace you."

"Ah...I know....I just.....sorry Stella, thank you and it's lovely to meet you too....I've gotta- I gotta go talk to the chief." She stuttered, suddenly overwhelmed and feeling hot under the collar.

She knew Borrelli had gotten hurt. She had visited him in the hospital. She had also met Chilli before Chilli had been and gone again. Now she knew all of them.

But why had no one mentioned Stella before?

She couldn't have been that new.

-.-.-.-.-

"Gallagher!" Boden jumped up from his desk when he saw the woman, still in her formal uniform stood in his doorway. "News?"

"I passed everything." Her cove was still coming out croaked and small. "Commissioner Radley said to say hello." She squeaked. "That's excellent, I'll send him my regards.....everything okay Gallagher, because if you're not ready-."

"I am ready. Definitely. I feel over 100% Chief so just-."
"You met Stella." He finished for her as if reading her mind.

"Another squad member?" She asked and he sighed. "Gallagher, you don't need to feel threatened, your seat is still on squad it never wavered."

"But if it had- you would have had a replacement if I hadn't seen of passed today."
"Gallagher you know about the mandated numbers I have to have on squad. I had to have a fill in for you while you were gone." He reminded her. "That's not the problem, you giving her a permanent position and hiding it from me was." She told him honestly.

"I don't feel replaced. I feel lied to. Why was a new team member kept from me when I was away when every other one was formally introduced?" She asked and he nodded along understanding her frustration. "Lieutenant Severide, thought it would be best not to tell you incase you were upset while you were recovering."
"Kelly did this."

"Yes he made the choice. Gallagher I want no I'm fighting from this. Out there a small disagreement can blow up into a massive fight." He warned pointing out at the "dangerous world" beyond his office window.

"Sorry for the intrusion Chief. I was just feeling put out and taken by surprise." She nodded solemnly at him. "Quite alright Gallagher, I know first hand how you hate feeling coddled. So off you go." He nodded at her once more.

"Thanks chief." She turned to leave.

"Oh and Gallagher?"
"Chief."

"It's good to have you back."

-.-.-.-.-

"Hey Stella." Reign was now changed into her usual uniform. Her hair had been loosened and her boots were comfortingly heavy once more on her feet.

"Hi, Reign- sorry Gallagher." Stella spam around on her heel. "Reign's fine." The slightly taller brunette spoke again, "I'm sorry for being so rude this morning- I was just shocked we had a new permanent member and no one had told me- Kelly....Lieutenant Severide told Boden he thought it was best to keep me in the dark."

"Actually, I asked Kelly to.....I'm sorry, you have a reputation for being so......strong and frankly amazing that I.....I didn't wanna meet you while you were down. Felt like I was insulting you especially if you-."
"Hadn't passed my physical?"

"Yeah....imm so sorry."
"Don't be." Reign's voice and face had instantly softened. "I get being the only girl on squad is big boots to fill putting up with the guys."
"It's not just that- you're a hero-."

"We wear the same badge Stella....and believe me, I'm not perfect, not by half I do this job to help people because I got really distracted growing up.....from what I should have been doing. Please don't ever feel intimidated again." Reign soothed, the natural big sister in her shining.

"Thanks Reign. And sorry again- please don't murder Kelly over this...he really wanted to introduce us, he knew me...before I uh....joined the house."

"We'll consider yourself officially introduced. It's gonna be nice having another female around. Dawson and Brett and I need some more oestrogen around here."

"Ha ha Thanks."

Then the bell rang and Reign braced herself. Her they go.