Forbidden (Kelly Severide)

Chapter 10

The sun had just started to rise as Ivy Casey stood in front of Firehouse 51, her heart pounding in her chest. It had been weeks since the building collapse that left her hospitalized and fighting for her life. Today was her first day back on shift, and she couldn't shake the mix of emotions swirling inside her—nervousness, excitement, and a lingering sense of dread.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. The familiar sounds of the firehouse—the hum of engines, the distant chatter of her colleagues—were comforting, yet they also reminded her of how close she had come to never hearing them again.

As she stepped inside, she was greeted by the usual bustle of activity. Squad 3 was already gearing up, and she could see the familiar faces of her fellow firefighters. Some of them looked up as she walked in, giving her nods or brief smiles of encouragement.

"Ivy!" Cruz was the first to approach her, his face breaking into a wide grin. "It's good to see you back."

"Thanks, Cruz," Ivy replied, returning his smile. "It's good to be back."

Otis followed, clapping her on the shoulder. "We missed you around here. It's not the same without you."

Ivy chuckled, feeling the warmth of their camaraderie. "I missed you guys too."

As more of her colleagues welcomed her back, Ivy felt the knot in her stomach begin to loosen. This was her family, and no matter what had happened, she knew they had her back. But as much as she appreciated their support, there was one person she was most anxious to see.

"Lieutenant," she greeted as she approached Kelly Severide, who was adjusting his gear near Squad 3's truck.

Kelly looked up, his eyes softening when they met hers. "Casey," he said, his voice low and warm. "You ready for this?"

Ivy nodded, though she couldn't completely hide her nerves. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Kelly gave her a reassuring smile. "You'll do great. Just take it one step at a time, okay?"

"Yeah," Ivy agreed, feeling a little more at ease. "Thanks, Kelly."

He squeezed her arm gently before stepping back. "Let's gear up. We've got this."

Ivy nodded again, her resolve strengthening. She could do this. She was a firefighter—this was what she was trained for, what she lived for. And she had Kelly by her side, which made all the difference.

As she pulled on her gear, Ivy noticed Matt Casey approaching. Her brother had been a constant presence during her recovery, always checking in on her, making sure she was okay. But she could see the concern still etched on his face.

"Ivy," Matt said, his voice soft as he stopped in front of her. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good, Matt," Ivy assured him, giving him a small smile. "Really. I'm ready."

Matt studied her for a moment, then nodded, though his concern didn't entirely fade. "Just...be careful out there, okay?"

"I will," Ivy promised.

With that, Matt gave her a quick hug before heading over to his own truck. Ivy watched him go, feeling a wave of affection for her brother. He had always been protective of her, and she knew how much it must have hurt him to see her go through what she had. But she also knew that he trusted her to take care of herself, and that meant more to her than anything.

Just as she finished securing her helmet, the alarm rang out through the firehouse, signaling a call. Ivy's heart skipped a beat, the familiar rush of adrenaline flooding her system. It was time.