Forbidden (Kelly Severide)

Chapter 20

Ivy adjusted her helmet as she climbed into Squad 3, her heart racing in anticipation. The call had come in about a large warehouse fire on the South Side, and the entire crew at Firehouse 51 was responding. Kelly was already in the driver's seat, focused as ever, but she could sense the tension in the air. This fire was going to be a difficult one.

As Squad 3 pulled up to the scene, Ivy could see flames billowing out of the windows, thick black smoke filling the sky. The air smelled of burning rubber and chemicals, a sure sign that this fire was dangerous. She quickly jumped out of the truck, already preparing her gear.

But before they could get to work, a familiar and unwelcome face appeared. Captain Anderson, along with Adams, was standing near the command center. Ivy's stomach dropped. Anderson had been a thorn in her side since his last inspection at the firehouse, and she knew he wouldn't pass up an opportunity to make her life more difficult. And of course, Adams, the same chief who had been antagonizing her for weeks, was right beside him.

"Casey," Anderson called out, his voice dripping with disdain as he strode toward her. "What the hell are you doing here? Thought I'd made it clear that Squad 3 could do better."

Ivy gritted her teeth but kept her cool. "Just doing my job, Captain."

Anderson crossed his arms, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "We'll see about that. Don't get in anyone's way. Especially the real firefighters."

Before Ivy could respond, Adams stepped forward, his eyes narrowing. "You sure you're up for this, Casey? We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt because you couldn't pull your weight."

The insults hit harder than they should have, especially with the fire raging behind them, lives at stake. But Ivy wasn't about to let them get to her. She had worked too hard to let two egotistical captains break her spirit.

Kelly, who had been nearby overseeing the team, stepped up, glaring at Anderson and Adams. "That's enough. Ivy's part of this team, and she's proven herself more than capable. You two need to back off and let us do our jobs."

Anderson sneered. "Stay out of this, Severide. You're not the one I'm worried about."

Kelly's fists clenched, but he didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he turned to Ivy and gave her a reassuring nod. "Let's go."

Together, they moved toward the burning building, determined to prove themselves once again. Inside, the fire was roaring, heat and smoke filling the air. They began their primary search, sweeping the rooms for any survivors while the rest of the crew worked to contain the flames.

Despite the tension and the insults thrown her way, Ivy kept her focus. She worked alongside Kelly, moving with precision and efficiency. This was where she belonged, no matter what Anderson or Adams said. This was her job, her team, and she wasn't going to let them take that from her.

Hours later, when the fire was finally under control, Ivy collapsed against the side of Squad 3, her body aching with exhaustion. Kelly was beside her, his hand resting gently on her back. "You okay?" he asked quietly.

Ivy nodded, though the weight of the day was starting to catch up to her. "Yeah. I'm fine. Just... tired of dealing with them."

Kelly's expression darkened. "Anderson and Adams will get what's coming to them. You did great today, Ivy. Don't let them make you doubt that."

She offered him a small smile, grateful for his support. "Thanks, Kel."

Just as they were about to head back to the firehouse, Anderson sauntered over once more, Adams trailing behind him. "Not bad for a girl, Casey," Anderson said, his voice dripping with condescension. "Maybe you'll survive after all."

Ivy shot him a withering look but said nothing. She was too tired for another confrontation, and it wasn't worth it. Instead, she turned and walked back to the truck with Kelly.

Later that evening, Ivy and Kelly sat on the couch at his apartment, trying to unwind after the long and grueling day. The fire had taken its toll, not just physically but emotionally, and Ivy found herself leaning against Kelly, seeking comfort in his presence. He wrapped his arm around her, pulling her closer.

"You know," Ivy said softly, "I don't think I've ever been this exhausted."

Kelly chuckled, his fingers running through her hair. "Welcome to life on Squad 3."

Ivy smiled, feeling a sense of peace wash over her as they sat together in the quiet. The warmth of Kelly's embrace made everything else fade away—the insults from Anderson and Adams, the stress of the fire, all of it seemed distant now.

"Thanks for having my back today," Ivy said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Always," Kelly replied, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "I'm not going to let anyone mess with you. You're too important to me."

Ivy turned to face him, her heart skipping a beat at the intensity in his eyes. For a moment, they just stared at each other, the unspoken feelings between them hanging heavy in the air.

And then, as if pulled by some invisible force, their lips met in a soft, tender kiss. Ivy's hand instinctively reached up, resting against Kelly's chest as they deepened the kiss, the world around them fading away.

But just as things were starting to heat up, the front door swung open, and Shay's voice echoed through the apartment. "Hey, Severide! You—oh my God!"

Ivy and Kelly sprang apart, both of them blushing furiously as they turned to see Shay standing in the doorway, her eyes wide with shock. And behind her, to their absolute horror, stood Matt, Gabby, Hallie, and Peter Mills.

"Oh, this is priceless," Shay said, grinning from ear to ear. "Caught in the act!"

Matt's expression was a mixture of confusion and amusement as he crossed his arms. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?"

Ivy groaned, burying her face in her hands. "This is so embarrassing."

Kelly cleared his throat, trying to play it cool. "Uh... yeah. So, this is awkward."

Gabby, ever the instigator, couldn't resist teasing. "What happened to keeping things professional, Lieutenant?"

"I'm never gonna hear the end of this, am I?" Kelly muttered, rubbing the back of his neck.

Hallie smirked. "Not a chance."

As the group continued to tease them mercilessly, Ivy couldn't help but laugh despite her embarrassment. It was a welcome distraction from the stress of the day, and as awkward as it was to be caught in the middle of a makeout session, it felt good to be surrounded by friends who cared about her.

Eventually, Shay clapped her hands together. "Alright, enough teasing. Let's order some food and celebrate Ivy surviving yet another encounter with Captain Anderson."

"Good idea," Matt agreed, though he gave Ivy a pointed look. "But we are definitely having a conversation later, sis."

Ivy rolled her eyes, but there was a playful smile on her face. "Yeah, yeah. Later."

As the night went on and they all settled in for a much-needed evening of food and laughter, Ivy felt a sense of warmth and belonging. Despite the challenges, despite the doubts, she had a family here at Firehouse 51. And no one—especially not Anderson or Adams—could take that away from her.