Forbidden (Kelly Severide)

Chapter 11

The air was thick with tension as the sirens wailed, echoing through the streets of Chicago. Firehouse 51 was on the move, racing toward a fire reported in an old warehouse on the city's south side. Ivy Casey sat in the back of the Squad 3 truck, her adrenaline pumping as they neared the scene. She had been back on duty for a few shifts now, and while the nerves still lingered, she was starting to find her rhythm again.

Kelly Severide sat across from her, his eyes locked on hers for a brief moment before he shifted his focus back to the task at hand. There was an unspoken connection between them, a bond that had only grown stronger since the accident. Ivy couldn't help but feel a warmth in her chest whenever their eyes met—a warmth that had become all too familiar.

"Everyone stay sharp," Kelly's voice cut through the noise as they pulled up to the warehouse. "We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

The team moved with practiced efficiency as they exited the truck and began assessing the situation. Smoke billowed from the warehouse, but there were no visible flames—a good sign, Ivy thought, but it also meant the fire could be hidden deep inside.

"Casey, you're with me," Kelly said, gesturing for Ivy to follow him as they approached the entrance.

The two of them moved quickly but cautiously, scanning for any signs of danger as they entered the building. The inside was a maze of old machinery and stacked crates, making it difficult to see far ahead. Ivy's heart pounded in her chest, but she kept her focus on the job, trusting Kelly's lead.

They searched through the dense smoke, but it soon became clear that the fire wasn't as severe as they had initially feared. After a thorough inspection, they found that the flames had been mostly contained to a small section of the warehouse, likely caused by faulty wiring.

"It's manageable," Kelly said, relaying the information over the radio. "Let's get this under control."

Within minutes, the team had the situation in hand. The fire was extinguished, and the scene was secured. As they began to pack up, Ivy felt a wave of relief wash over her. It had been a tense call, but everything had gone smoothly. No one was hurt, and the fire was out.

"Good work, everyone," Kelly called out as they started heading back to the trucks.

Ivy fell in step beside him, feeling the usual post-call adrenaline still buzzing through her veins. As they walked, she couldn't help but notice the way Kelly's hand brushed against hers, sending a familiar jolt through her. She glanced up at him, catching the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

When they arrived back at the firehouse, the team began unloading their gear and cleaning up. Ivy's mind was still on Kelly, the brief moments they had shared during the call replaying in her head. It was getting harder to deny the growing feelings between them, especially when they were so often thrown into situations where emotions ran high.

"I'll meet you in the turnout gear room," Kelly said softly as they finished unloading. His voice was low enough that only Ivy could hear, and there was an unmistakable glint in his eyes that made her pulse quicken.

"Okay," Ivy replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

She made her way to the turnout gear room, her heart racing in anticipation. It was a small, tucked-away space where the firefighters stored their gear—usually empty except during a shift change. Ivy had a feeling she knew what Kelly wanted to talk about, and her emotions were all over the place. Part of her was nervous, but another part—one she couldn't quite ignore—was excited.

When she entered the room, Kelly was already there, leaning casually against the wall, his eyes dark and intense as they followed her every move.

"Kelly..." Ivy began, but she didn't get the chance to say anything else.

In a few quick strides, Kelly closed the distance between them, his hand gently cupping her cheek as he pulled her into a kiss. It was a kiss that Ivy had been longing for, even if she hadn't admitted it to herself. She melted into him, her hands gripping the fabric of his turnout coat as she kissed him back with just as much intensity.

For a moment, it was like nothing else existed—just the two of them, caught up in the passion that had been building between them for so long. Kelly's other hand slid around her waist, pulling her closer as their kiss deepened.

But just as they were getting lost in each other, a voice from the doorway broke through the haze.

"Uh...am I interrupting something?"

Ivy and Kelly sprang apart, both of them whipping around to see Joe Cruz standing in the doorway, his eyebrows raised in surprise. His expression was somewhere between amused and shocked as he stared at them, clearly not expecting to walk in on what he had just witnessed.

"Cruz!" Ivy gasped, her face flushing red as she quickly straightened her gear, trying to regain some semblance of composure.

Kelly, on the other hand, seemed less flustered, though he was clearly caught off guard. He ran a hand through his hair, trying to play it cool as he addressed Cruz.

"It's...uh, not what it looks like," Kelly started, though the grin on Cruz's face suggested that the explanation wasn't fooling anyone.

"Oh, really?" Cruz said, crossing his arms as he leaned against the doorframe. "Because it looks like I just caught you two making out in the turnout gear room."

Ivy's face turned even redder, and she couldn't bring herself to meet Cruz's gaze. She had always been careful to keep her personal life separate from her work life, and now she felt like she had just shattered that boundary in the most embarrassing way possible.

Kelly sighed, realizing there was no point in trying to deny it. "Okay, fine. You caught us. But can we keep this between us, Cruz?"

Cruz chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't know, Lieutenant. This might be the most exciting thing that's happened around here in a while."

"Cruz, seriously," Ivy finally spoke up, her voice pleading. "Please don't say anything. We're...still figuring things out."

The teasing smile on Cruz's face softened slightly as he looked at Ivy. "Don't worry, Casey. Your secret's safe with me."

Ivy breathed a sigh of relief, though she still felt mortified at being caught. Kelly gave Cruz a grateful nod, though he didn't seem as embarrassed as Ivy did.

"Thanks, man," Kelly said, his tone sincere. "We appreciate it."

Cruz waved them off, a mischievous grin still playing on his lips. "Just be careful next time, okay? You never know who might walk in."

With that, Cruz left the room, leaving Ivy and Kelly standing there in stunned silence.

"Well...that was awkward," Ivy muttered, finally meeting Kelly's gaze.

Kelly laughed softly, shaking his head. "Yeah, not exactly how I imagined this going."

Despite the awkwardness, Ivy couldn't help but smile at him, her heart still racing from their kiss. "So...what now?"

Kelly stepped closer, his expression softening as he reached out to take her hand. "Now, we take it one step at a time. And maybe...we try to be a little more discreet."

Ivy chuckled, squeezing his hand. "I think that's a good idea."

As they stood there, still holding hands, Ivy felt a warmth spread through her. Despite everything—the risks, the complications—being with Kelly felt right. And she was willing to navigate whatever challenges came their way if it meant they could be together.

"Come on," Kelly said, finally breaking the moment. "We should get back out there before anyone else comes looking for us."

"Yeah," Ivy agreed, though she was reluctant to let go of his hand.

As they left the turnout gear room, Ivy couldn't help but glance back at Kelly, a smile tugging at her lips. Things were complicated, but she had a feeling they were just getting started. And whatever happened next, she was ready to face it—with Kelly by her side.