Forbidden (Kelly Severide)

Chapter 5

Ivy Casey stood in the locker room of Firehouse 51, her mind racing. The feelings she had been wrestling with for weeks were finally bubbling to the surface, threatening to overwhelm her. Kelly Severide, the man she admired and cared for deeply, had confessed his feelings for her. She had reciprocated, but uncertainty lingered, amplified by the unspoken risks of their situation.

As she changed into her gear, Ivy couldn't shake the memory of their kiss the night before. It had been soft and tender, filled with unspoken promises. But as soon as their lips had parted, fear had gripped her, and she had fled, leaving Kelly standing alone, confused and hurt.

Today, she needed to clear her head and focus on her job. Squad 3 had another busy day ahead, and she couldn't afford any distractions. As she finished getting ready, she took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves.

The alarm sounded, breaking the silence and sending a surge of adrenaline through the firehouse. Ivy quickly joined the rest of Squad 3 in the apparatus bay. Kelly was already there, his expression unreadable as he glanced in her direction.

"Let's move out," he ordered, his voice firm and professional.

The team piled into the truck, the tension between Ivy and Kelly palpable. As they sped towards the scene, Ivy's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She needed to talk to Kelly, to explain why she had run off, but now wasn't the time.

They arrived at a burning apartment building, the flames licking at the sky and smoke billowing out of the windows. The scene was chaotic, with residents screaming and firefighters working frantically to contain the blaze.

"Primary search!" Kelly shouted. "Ivy, you're with me."

Ivy nodded, grabbing her gear and following Kelly into the inferno. The heat was intense, and the smoke made it difficult to see, but Ivy trusted Kelly implicitly. They moved quickly, searching for anyone who might still be trapped inside.

"Over here!" Kelly called, pointing to a door that was partially ajar. Ivy followed him, pushing the door open to reveal a smoke-filled room.

"Help!" a faint voice called out from somewhere inside.

Ivy and Kelly moved towards the sound, finding a young woman huddled in a corner with her child. Ivy quickly assessed the situation and motioned for Kelly to take the child while she helped the mother.

"Stay close," Ivy instructed, guiding the woman towards the exit.

As they made their way through the building, the ceiling above them creaked ominously. Suddenly, a section of it collapsed, sending debris crashing down. Ivy pushed the woman out of the way just in time but was hit by a falling beam.

"Ivy!" Kelly shouted, his voice filled with panic.

Ivy tried to push the beam off her, but it was too heavy. Pain radiated through her body, and she struggled to breathe. Kelly quickly set the child down and rushed to her side, his expression frantic.

"Stay with me, Ivy," he urged, trying to lift the beam. "We're going to get you out of here."

With a tremendous effort, Kelly managed to shift the beam enough for Ivy to crawl out. She collapsed into his arms, gasping for breath.

"Ivy, you're going to be okay," Kelly said, his voice shaking. "Just hold on."

He carried her out of the building, calling for a paramedic. The rest of the team worked to control the fire and evacuate the remaining residents. Kelly stayed by Ivy's side as she was loaded into the ambulance, his heart pounding with fear.

At the hospital, Ivy was rushed into surgery. Kelly paced the waiting room, his mind racing with guilt and worry. He couldn't shake the image of Ivy lying under that beam, her face pale and her breathing labored. He felt responsible for her injuries, knowing that his feelings for her had distracted him.

Hours passed, and Kelly remained in the waiting room, refusing to leave until he knew Ivy was okay. Finally, a doctor emerged, looking tired but relieved.

"She's stable," the doctor said. "She suffered some internal injuries, but we were able to repair the damage. She's in recovery now."

Kelly let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding. "Can I see her?"

The doctor nodded. "She's still unconscious, but you can sit with her."

Kelly followed the doctor to Ivy's room, his heart heavy with emotion. He entered the room quietly, his eyes immediately finding Ivy's still form on the bed. She looked so fragile, her face pale against the white sheets.

Kelly sat down beside her, taking her hand in his. "Ivy, I'm so sorry," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I should have protected you better. This is all my fault."

Tears filled his eyes as he continued, his heart aching with love and regret. "I don't know if you can hear me, but I need you to know how much I love you. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and it scares me, but it's the truth. You're everything to me, Ivy. Please, come back to me."

He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I need you, Ivy. More than anything."

As Kelly sat back, he noticed a flicker of movement from Ivy's eyelids. His heart skipped a beat, hope surging through him.

"Ivy?" he called softly, squeezing her hand.

Slowly, Ivy's eyes fluttered open. She looked around, her gaze finally settling on Kelly. "Kelly?" she whispered, her voice weak.

"I'm here," he said, relief flooding through him. "You're going to be okay."

Ivy managed a small smile. "I heard you," she said, her voice gaining strength. "I heard everything."

Kelly's heart swelled with emotion. "I meant every word, Ivy. I love you so much."

Tears filled Ivy's eyes as she looked up at him. "I love you too, Kelly. I was so scared, but hearing your voice... it brought me back."

Kelly leaned down, their foreheads touching. "You're safe now," he whispered. "I'll never let anything happen to you again."

They stayed like that for a while, drawing strength from each other. Despite the pain and fear, they knew they had something precious—something worth fighting for. As Ivy drifted back to sleep, Kelly stayed by her side, his heart full of love and determination.

The next few days were a blur of hospital visits and recovery. Ivy's strength slowly returned, and with it, her resolve to move forward. Kelly was by her side every step of the way, his unwavering support giving her the courage she needed to heal.

Back at the firehouse, the team rallied around Ivy, offering their encouragement and love. Matt, still unaware of the depth of Ivy and Kelly's relationship, remained a steadfast friend and brother, his presence a constant source of comfort for Ivy.

One evening, as Ivy and Kelly sat on the couch in her apartment, she looked over at him, her heart full. "Thank you, Kelly. For everything."

Kelly smiled, taking her hand. "You don't have to thank me, Ivy. I'm just glad you're okay."

Ivy leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling a sense of peace she hadn't known in a long time. "I'm not just okay. I'm happy. Because I have you."

Kelly kissed the top of her head, his heart swelling with love. "And I have you. That's all I need."

They sat in comfortable silence, knowing that their love had been tested and had come out stronger on the other side. They had faced their fears and come through the fire, and now, they had a future to look forward to—together.