#3 Sunshine And Roses

Chapter Twenty Four

"Cmon Herrmann pick up," Gabby mumbled anxiously as she paced around the ER, her phone near her ear. "Whoa what's up with Gabby?" Cruz asked as Matt walked into the waiting room, rubbing his elbow and fixing his watch. Matt looked over to where Cruz was staring, running his hand through his hair. "She's just like Sylvie," Matt replied as he nodded his head to the other side of the room, Cruz staring in her direction. They both watched as Sylvie frantically paced around, Kelly hot on her heels. "Why won't Violet pick up her phone?! How hard is it to answer a phone?!" Sylvie questioned, Kelly sighing. "Babe, all the phone lines must be busy. Did you forget how many people there are in Chicago?" "Let me see your phone!" Sylvie exclaimed as she turned around and faced Kelly, Kelly digging into his pockets and pulling out his phone, Sylvie quickly snatching it out of his hand, walking in the other direction.
"Cmon!" Gabby shouted as she angrily shoved her phone back in her pocket, Matt walking over, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Is everything okay?" "Does everything look okay to you Matt?" Gabby asked harshly, Matt shrugging. "We're breathing aren't we?" "How am I supposed to even know if my own children are breathing if nobody's answering their phones?!" Matt pulled Gabby close and placed his forehead against hers, their heart beats rising. "They're fine," Matt whispered near her ear, Gabby nodding her head before laying her head on his chest, Matt stroking her back. She then felt chills race through her body, Gabby pulling back and staring into Matts eyes, Matt smiling. He placed his hand on the side of her cheek before slowly moving in, their lips connecting. "Awe look at Dawsey!" Cruz exclaimed as he chuckled, everyone at 51 looking at them, their eyes big. "You guys got it all wrong!" Matt laughed as he pulled back, Gabby smirking. "It's just Casey. Always has and always will be," Matt replied as he looked back at Gabby, Gabby flashing a smile. "I think we should take this outside" "Outside? Gabby, if you haven't noticed, there's a blizzard out there" "I'm talking about inside Truck 81," Gabby replied as she winked, Matt staring deeply into Gabby's eyes, not looking away. "I think I'll take you up on that offer," Matt replied as he held her hand, both of them walking out of the ER and to the truck, Kelly watching them leave. "Hey lieutenant, did you see that?" Tony asked as he smirked, Kelly nodding his head. "I sure did. Remember the time when I caught them making out in the back of the ambo?" "Uh Kelly, wasn't that you and Sylvie?" Cruz asked, Kelly glaring at him, biting his lip. "Shut up Cruz," Kelly mumbled as he sat back down in a chair, Sylvie walking over and handing Kelly back his phone, a look of dissatisfaction on her face. "Is everything-" "Kelly, if you're really about to ask me if everything's okay, I'd zip it," Sylvie snapped, Max chuckling. "You too Mini Mouch" Max lifted up his shirt revealing a 6 pack, Sylvie rolling her eyes. "Come again?" Max asked just as Kelly's phone started to vibrate, Sylvie quickly snatching it back out of Kelly's hand and placing it to her ear. "Hello? Herrmann?" "Sylvie!" "Oh thank God. How're the kids?" Sylvie asked as she looked to Kelly and gave him a thumbs up, Kelly flashing a smile. "That's good to hear. As you probably know, we're stuck here until further notice so you and the kids are gonna have to hold up the firehouse a bit longer" "Ah it's no problem. Peyton's running this firehouse as if he's the Chief!" Sylvie giggled when she heard this about her son, a smile growing on her face. "Thats awesome. Oh yeah while I have you on the line, how're Olivia and Paul? I'm pretty sure Gabby would want to know" "Where is she?" "She's too busy making out with the Chief in the back of the truck," Sylvie replied, Herrmann chuckling. "I swear those two have been everywhere but to answer your question, their good. Olivia's helping me pass out food to the pedestrians and Paul went down for a nap" "That's great to hear, I'll pass on the news! Thanks Herrmann, stay safe" "You too kid," Herrmann replied as Sylvie hanged up the phone, handing it back to Kelly. "Is everything alright?" Kelly asked, Sylvie nodding her head. "You should be proud of your son..." "Why what'd he do?" "Well according to Herrmann, he's being a great leader, just like his father," Sylvie replied as she sat on Kelly's lap and ran her hand through his hair, Kelly smirking. "He really didn't say that. Even if he did, I'm far from being a great leader" "Kelly Benjamin Severide, how can you say that about yourself? I've known you for twenty years and you are one of the greatest leaders I've had the pleasure to know." When Kelly heard this he held Sylvie's face in his hands before lightly placing a kiss on her lips, Matt and Gabby walking back into the hospital. "Whoa you guys. Both of your hair is a mess!" Max exclaimed as he laughed, Matt rolling his eyes. "The wind is going crazy outside. You're welcome to go see for yourself," Matt replied as he held his hand out towards the door, Max shaking his head. "Sure Chief... Sure."

"I don't think Herrmann likes me," Marcus said as he scrubbed the squad table, Alexa rolling her eyes. "He doesn't like anybody. At one point, lets just say my dad didn't like him either," Alexa replied as she helped scrubbed, Marcus stopping and crossing his arms. "Alexa, I don't feel like I'm welcomed here" "Awe babe don't say that..." "Babe?" Peyton questioned as he walked over wearing one of Kelly's spare fire helmets, his arms crossed. Alexa looked at her brother, sighing loudly. "Peyton take that off your head. You look stupid" "Says the one that's scrubbing tables," Peyton replied as he walked off, Alexa growling. "Whoa take it easy there tiger," Marcus chuckled, Alexa blushing. "I just can't stand him. Ever since he's been born, it's been all about Peyton. 'Peyton's getting good grades. Peyton is going to be a firefighter when he grows up'," Alexa said as she imitated Sylvie's voice, Marcus shrugging. "I don't see what the big deal is?" "You wouldn't understand. You're lucky you're the only child" "I wouldn't have been if my mom was able to have more kids," Marcus told her, Alexa sighing. "The point is, their so focused on Peyton that they don't even know that I was accepted into a pre-paramedic training school that I can start going to when I turn 14." Marcus stared at Alexa, his eyes big. "Wow, Alexa! That's amazing," Marcus stuttered, Alexa giving him a weak smile. "You got accepted into a paramedic school?" Herrmann asked, Alexa jumping up and turning around, shyly nodding her head. "Herrmann, how long have you been standing there?" "The whole time" "So, you heard everything?" Marcus asked, Herrmann nodding his head. "I heard every word. Sit down you two," Herrmann told them as he pointed at two chairs, Alexa and Marcus doing as they were told. "You guys know I push you because I want to see you succeed, right?" Herrmann asked, Alexa nodding. "I know but..." "Marcus-" Herrmann said as he cut Alexa off, Alexa holding her tongue. "Yes sir?" "Don't ever feel like you're not welcomed here at 51, because you are welcomed here at this firehouse. It's just that, a lot of us are protective when it comes to Alexa because, shes like my granddaughter. She also reminds us of one of our deceased family members..." "Shay," Alexa mumbled, Herrmann nodding his head. "Shay was the beating heart of 51 and when Alexa was born, she replaced that title," Herrmann said as he smiled, a tear running down Alexa's face. "You really mean that?" "Of course I do kid. Everybody here at 51 loves you, including your parents" "It doesn't seem like it. They only pay attention to Peyton" "It may seem that way to you, but all you got to do is open your eyes Alexa. Once you do you'll realize you're loved, more than you'll ever know."