IN THIS SKIN -- CHICAGO FIRE

27;

  Both Kelly and Marley were frozen. Matt was behind Kelly, worrying about how both of them would react. He knew Kelly no longer blamed Marley specifically, but he was still angry about what had happened, and he was impulsive and didn't think about what he was saying before he spoke. He also knew how hurt and sad Marley was about Kelly leaving her when she needed him, so he tried to stay back, but also close enough to intervene in case anyone said something they would regret. He also knew that whilst Kelly had forgiven himself for leaving, Marley hadn't, and she wasn't ready for a conversation with him without exploding at him.

Kelly felt his heart skip a beat. He had missed Marley explainable amounts, and he hated himself for blaming her and leaving, but his pride prevented him from returning any sooner. That was something he could never forgive himself for. He knew it was something that Marley wouldn't be able to forgive him for either.

Marley was first to break the silence.
"So, are you back now?" Kelly hesitated, but nodded.
"Yeah, I had to, erm, sort my head out." He said quietly. Although Marley tried to hold it back, a small, humourless laugh escaped her lips.
"Marley..." Matt warned, shooting her a look that she just shook her head at.
"Whatever," she muttered, "well the apartment's gone, so I live with Christopher and Cindy now. Oh, and if it wasn't for him taking me in, I'd have been sent back to the foster homes that you got me from. You missed Shay's funeral, you missed me having to deal with the fact that Shay was dead and my guardian hating me, but I'm so glad you had time to 'sort your head out.'" She snarled at him, pushing past him to enter the firehouse.

It was quiet inside, all of them were aware that Kelly had returned and were anxious to see how Marley would react and by the look on her face as she entered, she hadn't reacted positively. All of them cringed slightly as she passed through without so much as a glance to any of them, blinking back tears that threatened to fall. Herrmann let out a heavy sigh, breaking the silence. Both Kelly and Matt joined the group in the living area. There was an awkward atmosphere present- everyone felt different about Kelly leaving then returning as if nothing had happened. Christopher was especially awkward about it- he was happy that Kelly was back, but he had grown closer to her and was angry at Kelly for hurting her so badly.
"Well, no bones were broken. I guess it went better than expected." Mouch stated, a frown on his face. Herrmann shot him a look that shut him up. Peter stood up quickly and Herrmann nodded at him, signalling to him that he could go after her.

Marley was sat on Herrmann's bunk, her guitar in hand. She was strumming a tune he didn't recognised, and she was crying. Peter approached her slowly, and she turned around at the sound of his footsteps.
"I don't wanna be around here for a while." She stated. Peter nodded.
"Okay."

For the next three days, Marley stayed at home whilst Herrmann went to work. Everyone knew she was avoiding the firehouse and they didn't mind, they understood. It was a quiet Friday when everything changed. She was sat in the sitting room watching a repeat of a show when the was a loud crash through the kitchen window. Then another in the hallway. Immediately, she smelt smoke. She opened the door and her eyes widened. The exits of the house were through the kitchen and through the hallway. The house was on fire, and she was trapped. She dialed 911 and in her panic she ran up the stairs to her bedroom, locking the door. The fire was spreading quicker than she could understand, and she had never wanted to see the people at the firehouse ever as much as she wanted to now.