Forbidden (Kelly Severide)

Chapter 3

The shrill scream of sirens cut through the night air as Firehouse 51's trucks tore down the streets of Chicago. Lights flashed and horns blared, but inside the vehicles, a grim determination settled over the crew. A massive house fire had been reported, and every second counted.

Ivy Casey sat beside Kelly Severide on Squad 3. She had only recently joined the squad and was still finding her footing. Tonight, she felt a mixture of excitement and nerves. Matt Casey, on Truck 81, glanced over at Squad 3 as they sped through the streets. He caught Kelly Severide's eye and, with a grin, shouted, "Hey, Severide! When are you going to take Darden off my hands?"

Severide chuckled, glancing at Andy Darden, who was preparing his gear beside Ivy. "The day Andy makes squad is when I'm no longer in charge!" he called back, a playful tone in his voice. Andy rolled his eyes whilst sharing a laugh with Ivy.

The camaraderie and banter were typical for the crew, but the underlying tension of the impending fire loomed large. As the trucks arrived at the scene, the fire's fury became all too clear. Flames roared, devouring the wooden structure with a ferocity that sent sparks flying into the night sky. The team sprang into action, each person knowing their role. Ivy stayed close to Severide, determined to prove herself capable.

"Stay focused, Ivy," Severide instructed as they donned their gear. "I need you in a good headspace."

Ivy nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The heat from the fire was almost unbearable, but she pushed through, focusing on the task at hand. As they moved closer, they could hear the panicked cries of those trapped inside.

"Squad, get to the second floor!" Severide shouted, leading his team, including Andy and Ivy, toward the stairs. Matt and his team from Truck 81 followed, battling through the thick smoke.

The fire's intensity grew, and the building groaned under the strain. It was a race against time. Inside, the heat was suffocating, and visibility was almost zero. Ivy stayed close to Andy, trying to keep her fear at bay.

Andy Darden and Kelly Severide reached the second floor first. They could hear a child's cries coming from a room at the end of the hallway. "This way!" Andy shouted, charging toward the sound. He kicked open the door, revealing a terrified little girl clutching a teddy bear.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Andy said, his voice calm despite the chaos. "We're here to get you out."

Severide took the girl into his arms, cradling her against his chest as he led her back toward the stairs. Andy stayed behind, scanning the room for anyone else. Just as he was about to turn back, he heard a faint cry from behind a closet door.

He wrenched the door open, revealing Ivy, coughing and struggling to breathe. She had gotten separated from the others in the chaos and ended up here, trapped by the rapidly spreading fire.

"Ivy!" Andy exclaimed, relief flooding through him. "Come on, we need to get out of here."

Ivy stumbled forward, but a sudden backdraft sent a wall of flames roaring toward them. Andy pushed her to the floor, shielding her with his body as the flames passed over them. The intense heat singed his gear, but he didn't falter.

"Ivy, listen to me," Andy said urgently, his voice strained. "I love you like a sister. You have so much ahead of you, so much to give. Don't let anyone hurt you. Promise me that."

Tears streamed down Ivy's soot-streaked face as she nodded. "I promise, Andy."

He smiled, a sad but determined look in his eyes. "Goodbye, Little Bird," he whispered, using the nickname only he called her. "Now go, get out of here."

With one last push, he helped her to her feet and toward the door. Ivy stumbled into the hallway, where Severide and Matt were waiting. She looked back just in time to see the ceiling collapse, trapping Andy inside.

"Andy!" Ivy screamed, but Severide pulled her away, knowing there was nothing more they could do. The building was collapsing, and they had to get out.

They made it outside just as the house caved in, flames shooting high into the sky. The team regrouped, but the loss of Andy was a heavy blow. Ivy collapsed to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

Hours later, in the early dawn light, Matt, Kelly, and Ivy, all in uniform, stood at Heather Darden's door. The weight of what they had to do was crushing. Heather opened the door, her face lighting up with a smile that quickly faded as she saw their solemn expressions.

"What's wrong?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Matt took a deep breath. "Heather, it's about Andy. There was a fire..."

Heather's knees buckled, and she sank to the floor, her sobs piercing the silence. Her two boys, still groggy from sleep, appeared at the top of the stairs. "Mom?" they called, confusion and fear in their voices.

Ivy couldn't take it anymore. She turned and ran, tears blurring her vision. She didn't stop until she reached a small park a few blocks away. She collapsed on a bench, her body shaking with grief.

A few minutes later, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Kelly Severide standing there, his eyes filled with sadness and understanding.

"Ivy," he said softly, sitting beside her. "It's okay to cry."

She leaned into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her as she sobbed. "He saved me, Kelly," she choked out. "He saved me, and I couldn't save him."

"It's not your fault," Kelly whispered. "Andy did what he did because he loved you. He wouldn't want you to blame yourself."

They sat there for a long time, the dawn light slowly breaking through the darkness. Ivy's tears eventually subsided, replaced by a numbness that she knew would take time to heal. But in Kelly's arms, she found a small measure of comfort, knowing she wasn't alone in her grief.

And as the sun rose on a new day, they vowed to honor Andy's memory by continuing to fight, just as he had taught them.