Forbidden (Kelly Severide)

Chapter 13

The firehouse buzzed with excitement as Ivy Casey prepared to speak to a group of young children visiting Firehouse 51. It wasn't every day that they hosted a class from the local elementary school, and Ivy was both nervous and excited about the opportunity. She had been through countless intense situations on the job, but talking to a room full of eager, wide-eyed kids was something new.

As she stood in the apparatus bay, surrounded by the fire engines and gear that had become so familiar to her, Ivy couldn't help but smile. The children, around seven or eight years old, were huddled together in small groups, their voices filled with excitement as they took in the sights and sounds of the firehouse.

"Alright, everyone, gather around!" Captain Boden called out, his deep voice immediately capturing the attention of the kids. "We've got something special planned for you today. Firefighter Ivy Casey is going to tell you a bit about what we do here at Firehouse 51."

Ivy took a deep breath and stepped forward, her nerves easing as she saw the curious faces turn toward her. "Hi, everyone!" she greeted, her voice warm and inviting. "I'm Ivy, and I'm part of Squad 3 here at Firehouse 51. Who here knows what a firefighter does?"

A chorus of enthusiastic voices erupted, each child eager to share what they knew. "You fight fires!" one boy exclaimed.

"And save people!" a girl added, her pigtails bouncing as she nodded emphatically.

Ivy grinned. "That's right! We do a lot of things, but the most important part of our job is to keep people safe. Whether it's fighting fires, helping in accidents, or even rescuing animals, we're here to help anyone who needs it."

She watched as the children's eyes lit up with admiration, their fascination with the work of firefighters evident. It was heartwarming to see their enthusiasm and to know that she could make an impact, even in a small way.

"Do you know what else is important?" Ivy continued, lowering her voice to a more serious tone. "Safety. It's not just our job to keep others safe—we also need to make sure that you all know how to stay safe, too."

A little girl in the front row raised her hand eagerly. "How do we stay safe, Miss Ivy?"

"Great question!" Ivy said, kneeling down to be closer to the children's level. "There are a few things you can do to stay safe. First, always make sure you know where the exits are in any building you're in. If there's ever a fire, you need to know how to get out quickly."

The children nodded, their faces serious as they took in her words.

"Second," Ivy continued, "never play with matches or lighters. Fire is very dangerous, and it can get out of control faster than you think. If you ever see a fire, get an adult right away."

As Ivy spoke, she noticed one of the kids, a boy with glasses and a shy demeanor, raise his hand slowly. She smiled at him, encouraging him to speak. "Yes? What's your name?"

"Timmy," the boy replied quietly. "What if...what if you're scared?"

Ivy's heart softened at the question, and she took a moment to think before answering. "That's a really good question, Timmy. It's okay to be scared—everyone gets scared sometimes, even firefighters. But when you're scared, the most important thing to do is stay calm and remember what you've learned. If you know what to do and you stay calm, you'll be able to keep yourself safe."

Timmy seemed to relax a little at her words, and Ivy felt a swell of pride. She wasn't just teaching these kids about fire safety—she was helping them understand that it was okay to be scared, as long as they didn't let that fear take over.

"Now," Ivy said, standing back up, "I'm going to show you some of the equipment we use when we go out on calls. Who wants to see a real firefighter's helmet?"

A chorus of excited "Me!" echoed through the bay, and Ivy couldn't help but laugh at their enthusiasm. She walked over to one of the lockers and pulled out her helmet, holding it up for the kids to see.

"This is my helmet," she explained, turning it around so they could see every angle. "It's one of the most important pieces of gear I wear because it protects my head from falling debris and heat when I'm in a fire."

She handed the helmet to the first child, who looked at it with wide eyes before carefully passing it to the next kid. "It's heavy!" one of the boys exclaimed as he tried it on.

Ivy chuckled. "It sure is! But that's because it's built to keep us safe."

She then showed them her turnout gear, explaining how each piece worked to protect her from the heat and flames. The kids listened intently, their curiosity insatiable as they asked questions about everything from the air tanks to the radios they used to communicate.

As the tour went on, Kelly Severide joined them, smiling as he saw Ivy surrounded by the eager children. He gave her a small nod of encouragement, and she felt her confidence grow even more. Having him there made everything feel a little easier.

When they reached the fire trucks, the excitement level reached its peak. The kids were thrilled to climb inside, pretending to steer the big red vehicles and marveling at all the buttons and gadgets on the dashboard.

"Who wants to hear the siren?" Kelly asked, his voice carrying across the bay.

Every hand shot up, and Kelly laughed as he reached over and hit the siren switch for a brief moment. The kids covered their ears, giggling as the loud sound filled the space.

"Pretty cool, huh?" Ivy said, smiling at their reactions. "But remember, these trucks are only for emergencies. So if you ever see a fire truck with its lights and sirens on, make sure to stay out of the way so we can get to where we're needed."

The kids nodded, and Ivy could tell they were taking her words to heart. As the tour came to an end, the children gathered around Ivy and Kelly one last time.

"Thank you, Miss Ivy! Thank you, Mr. Kelly!" they chorused, their voices full of gratitude.

"You're very welcome," Ivy replied, feeling a warm glow of satisfaction. "We're glad you came to visit us today. And remember—stay safe, okay?"

As the children left with their teacher, waving goodbye enthusiastically, Ivy turned to Kelly, who was watching her with a proud smile.

"You did great," he said, his voice low and full of affection.

Ivy blushed, feeling a rush of warmth at his compliment. "Thanks. I wasn't sure if I'd know what to say, but they made it easy."

"They sure did," Kelly agreed, his eyes twinkling. "You've got a real knack for this, Ivy. Those kids are going to remember today for a long time."

Ivy smiled, feeling a sense of accomplishment that went beyond just doing her job. She had made a difference today, however small, and that was what mattered most.

As she and Kelly walked back into the firehouse, the camaraderie and support from her team felt stronger than ever. They had faced fires, emergencies, and now, a room full of inquisitive kids together. No matter what came next, Ivy knew she could handle it—with Kelly and the rest of the Firehouse 51 team by her side.