#3 Sunshine And Roses

Chapter Fifteen

"Hey Pey, can we talk?" Kelly asked as he closed the door to his office, Peyton laying down on the cot. "What is there to talk about?" Peyton mumbled as he grabbed Kelly's stress ball from off the nightstand. Kelly looked at his son as he crossed his arms. "Listen, I'm sorry about last night. I just want you to know that I never want to be the one to make a tear roll down your face. Being your father and seeing that tears me apart. Can you please forgive me?" Kelly asked, Peyton sitting up in Kelly's cot, carefully sliding out and hugging Kelly's neck, Kelly gripping onto his son. "I love you," Kelly told him, Peyton smiling. "I love you too," he replied as he pulled away, Kelly winking. "What do you say? Do you want to go for a ride with me in the squad truck?" Kelly asked, Peyton nodding his head. "I'll ask my teacher," Peyton told him as he opened Kelly's office door and ran out, Kelly smiling as Sylvie walked into the office, gently closing the door. "Hey you," Kelly said as Sylvie sat in his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Hey tough guy," she replied as Kelly kissed her lips, Sylvie smiling. "You get me every time," she told him as Peyton walked back into the office, suddenly turning pale. "Should I leave?" he asked them with his hand still on the knob, Sylvie shaking her head. "I have to go anyways. Gabby has us going out just to get ice cream," Sylvie mumbled, Kelly laughing and tapping her backside as she left the room, Peyton smirking. "You touched the booty" "Don't get any bright ideas. Your mother and I are married, so I'm legally allowed to do that," Kelly told him as he wrapped his arm around Peyton's shoulders, leading him out to the apparatus floor.

*Truck 81, Squad 3, Ambo 61 Man in distress. 5672 Ridgeway Ct* Matt looked at the teacher and sighed. "I have to go," he told her, Mrs. Farrah nodding. "We'll wait here until you get back" "Mouch, you can sit this one out. Why don't you show the kids how to put bunker gear on!" Matt exclaimed as he ran out to his Chief buggy, placing his helmet on his head. "Dad can I come?" Olivia asked as she ran out to the apparatus floor, Matt shaking his head. "Not this time," Matt replied as he got into the car and sped away, Olivia gritting her teeth. "Hey, you okay?" Peyton asked as he shoved his hands into his pockets, Olivia shrugging. "I can't wait until I'm older," she said, Peyton laughing. "Oh really, why?" "I'll be able to do whatever I want without asking. I'm sick and tired of taking orders. I feel like a slave" "A slave? Oh come on Liv, now you're overreacting!" "Am I Peyton? Am I?!" Olivia asked walking away, Peyton exhaling air. "Women," he mumbled as he walked back into the firehouse, staying as far away as possible from Olivia.
"What do we got?" Matt asked as he walked towards a woman, her hands covered in blood. "I didn't mean to do it!" she cried, running over to a man who laid underneath a lawnmower, a pool of blood surrounding him. "Harold I am so sorry!" "It's alright Sarah honey. I'll be fine," the man said as he gulped, Matt looking down at him. "I take it that your name is Harold?" "Yes it is. Who are you?" Harold asked as it suddenly got harder to breathe, Gabby and Sylvie running over with the medical bag, Matt bending down and placing a hand on Harold's shoulder. "Harold, I'm going to need you to take deep breaths for me. Can you do that?" Matt asked, Harold giving a quick nod as Gabby bent down next to him, placing two fingers on the side of Harold's neck. "You guys are going to have to work fast. His pulse is alarmingly slow," Gabby told them as Matt stood up, looking at Herrmann who stood by the truck. "Herrmann! Bring the tools over and get to work. We have to disassemble this thing, piece by piece. Be careful because one wrong move..." Matt slowly shook his head, Herrmann nodding his head. "Hey there I'm Chris. What's your name?" Herrmann asked, Harold slowly turning his head, giving a weak smile. "Harold" "How old are you Harold?" "I'm seventy three why do you ask?" Harold coughed, Herrmann shrugging. "Do you have any kids?" Harold nodded his head, squeezing his eyes shut. "Martha, and Martin," he choked, Gabby looking at Herrmann, his eyes wide. "Enough chit chat Herrmann. Just focus on getting this monster off of him," Gabby told him, Sylvie nodding in agreement. "Alright alright I here ya. Women, right pal?" Herrmann asked, Harold chucking. "Please don't make me laugh. It hurts to laugh" "Alright I'm sorry," Herrmann told him as he started unscrewing bolts, Kelly walking over and lifting the first piece off, quickly tossing it to the side. "Come on you guys hurry up! His blood pressure is dropping!" Sylvie exclaimed as Harold's eyes started to flutter, Herrmann looking at Harold's face before quickly unscrewing the last bolt. Harold started to stir, looking at Herrmann and grabbing his wrist, sadly shaking his head. "Don't bother," he coughed, Herrmann staring down at the man's hand. "Tell my children and grand babies I... Love... Them...." "No don't you dare Harold! Don't you give up that easily!" Herrmann yelled as the monitor flat lined, Kelly lifting the last piece and dragging it away, Gabby starting compressions. "Somebody get me a back board!" she yelled, Matt running to the Ambo and rolling over the whole gurney, Sylvie pushing in epi. "Please don't let him die! Please!" the woman cried, Cruz holding her back, the lady sobbing into his chest. "I can't lose him. He's the best thing that has ever happened to me!" Cruz looked down at the old lady's face and put her face into his hands, staring into her eyes. "Ma'am, we will do everything in our power to save your husband. I can promise you that" "Promise me he won't die!" Cruz sadly shook his head, placing his hands on the lady's shoulders. "I can't promise you that, but there is one thing I can tell you. Don't lose hope."
"Ambo 61 to Chicago Med, please be advised we're coming in hot with a crashing victim, suffering severe blood loss. It's a 73 year old male who takes A-," Gabby reported as she swiftly drove around cars, Sylvie doing compressions in the back. "How far out?!" Sylvie shouted, Gabby looking at the clock. "Two minutes out" "He doesn't have two minutes!" Sylvie exclaimed as she continued compressions, Gabby stepping harder on the gas pedal, making the ambo jump forward. "Gabby!" Sylvie yelled, Gabby feeling panicked. "We're almost there!" "Darn it come on!" Sylvie yelled as she pressed harder, Gabby finally reaching the ambo emergency entrance, a team of doctors waiting out front for them. "Rush him into transfusion room one!" Doctor Kendra ordered as the doctors whisked Harold away, Sylvie wiping the sweat off her forehead, her hands stained with blood. "Let's get started on paper work," Gabby told her as she gently patted Sylvie's back, Sylvie nodding. "Yeah, but let me go wash my hands first," Sylvie told her as she walked away into the bathroom, closing the stall door and sinking to the ground, crying into her jacket.
"Gabby!" Matt called out as he walked into the ER, giving Gabby a hug. "How's everything going?" he asked, Gabby shrugging. "Sylvie isn't taking it well" "Yeah. Neither is Herrmann," Matt said lowly nodding his head towards Herrmann, Herrmann sinking into his chair. "Family of Harold Woods?" a doctor asked as he walked out into the waiting room, Mrs. Woods standing. "Yes?" "Ma'am..." "No... No," Mrs. Woods cried into the doctors coat, Cruz walking over and holding the woman in his embrace, her wails filling the room. Herrmann quickly stood up and angrily walked out of the ER, making his way into the truck, slamming the door behind him. Matt saw this and placed a hand on Gabby's shoulder before walking out of the ER over to Herrmann who sat in the truck, his head hanging down low. "Herrmann?" Matt asked as he climbed into the front seat, Herrmann looking up and wiping away a tear, suddenly sniffling. "Chief," Herrmann replied, Matt looking at his friend, never seeing him break down like this at a call. "Herrmann, what's going on?" Matt asked, Herrmann shrugging. "He reminded me of an old childhood friend that's all," Herrmann told him as flashbacks played back in his mind. "Cmon Chris! Why don't you get the ball?" Erick asked as they stared at the ball in the middle of the road, Chris shrugging. "Maybe it's because I don't want to!" Herrmann looked up at Matt, a tear streaming down his face. "When I was a little munchkin about Olivia's age, I was stupid. I couldn't do anything right. One day, my good buddy Erick and I were playing with a soccer ball, and it was one of the new ones I got for my birthday. He accidentally had gotten mud on it," Herrmann said, Matt listening. "Out of anger, I threw the ball into the middle of the street, calling him names... I was awful to him" "Herrmann..." "I wouldn't get the ball. Even when I was being a horrible friend he still stood by my side. I remember him just wandering out into the road when a drunk driver came..." Herrmann said choking up, Matt placing his hand on his shoulder, Herrmann placing his face into his hands. "Herrmann, you can't blame yourself for that" "Yes I can Chief. It should've been me to get hit. Erick could've had everything I have now. A family, friends, a job. I took his life away from him!" "Don't say that!" "It's the truth Casey! Just sitting there and talking to that man brought back so many memories of how it used to be back in the day. I blame myself even 31 years later over his death. I got him killed" "Herrmann, things happen for a reason. Right now, both your friend and Harold are in more of a better place than where we are right now. I can't stop you from thinking what you're thinking but, I can stop you from blaming yourself. Herrmann, whether you realize it or not, your story molded you into who you are today. Erick molded you into who you are today. He's with you Herrmann, he's with you each and every day. Do you think he would want to see you like this?" Herrmann looked at Matt and shook his head, Matt nodding. "Of course he wouldn't. He wants to see you doing what you love."

Everyone walked back into the firehouse, defeat written on their faces. "Are you guys okay?" Peyton asked as Sylvie walked past, Kelly walking over and ruffling his hair, following after Sylvie. "Sylvie!" Kelly called out, Sylvie rounding the corner and walking into the bunker room, leaning against the wall and crying. "Sylvie..." Kelly said as he placed his two strong hands on her shoulders, making her look up at him. Kelly took his thumb and wiped away her tears, Sylvie leaning her head on his arm, Kelly doing the same. "You okay?" "Yeah, I'm just super!" Sylvie replied sarcastically, Kelly pulling her close and kissing her, Sylvie pulling back. "Thank you," she whispered, Kelly placing his forehead on hers, running his fingers through her hair. "Anytime."
Matt led Gabby into his office, gently shutting the door and locking it, drawing the blinds. "That was a rough call," Gabby mumbled as she sat on the couch, placing her head in her hands, her belly getting in the way. Matt sat next to her and placed a hand on her belly, Gabby smiling. "What're you thinking?" she asked him, Matt shrugging. "How lucky I am to have a family with the girl of my dreams" "Is that what you said to Hallie too?" Gabby asked smirking, Matt rolling his eyes. "Whatever, but my point is. I can't wait to start this next chapter in my life with you, Olivia, and this baby," Matt replied as Gabby leaned in and kissed his lips, Matt savoring every detail. He pulled Gabby closer and kissed the corners of her mouth, Gabby running her hand through his hair. "I still enjoy kissing you," Gabby told him in between kisses, Matt pulling back and opening his eyes, suddenly winking at her. "I feel the same way," he told her as he leaned back in and kissed her stronger, someone knocking on the door. "Dad, are you in there?" Olivia asked, Matt pulling away from Gabby and sighing. "No," he replied, Olivia rolling her eyes. "Is mom in there with you?" Matt looked at Gabby and Gabby shrugged, Matt placing his head on the door. "I don't know" "Well, I know she is! Whenever your office door is locked, she usually is. There's never been a time where you haven't locked the door when mom was in there" "Alright smarty pants are you leaving?" Matt asked as he cracked the door open, Olivia nodding her head. "Yep, bye!" she exclaimed as Matt leaned down, allowing Olivia to kiss the corner of his mouth. "Well that was new" "I need my practice" "For what?!" Matt asked worried, Olivia shrugging. "I'll tell you at home" "So help me young lady, if you even think about kissing someone..." "Daddy, relax! I was just joking" "You better be joking!" "Oh I am, and if I weren't I'd be doing this," Olivia said as she turned around, running her hands up and down her back, moving her head back and forth. "Just like you do to mom."