Serving Chicago

Chapter 35: How many days now?

"How many days now?" Otis called from across the kitchen.

"4 more shifts to go then I'm officially on mommy leave," Emilia chuckled, resting her band on her ever growing baby bump.

It had been months since Anna's funeral, things were good in the firehouse. There was little to no drama. Sylvie was living with Otis and Cruz and Stella had finally moved in with Severide. Whilst Emilia had been sceptical about this whole situation, she knew that whatever happened, she wasn't Kelly and it was his decision after all. But thankfully, nothing major had happened, Stella split with her boyfriend Sam and since then Kelly and her had been casually seeing each other, nothing exclusive though. He had made sure of that.

"I bet you can't wait kid, it's going to be the fastest 9 months of your life." Herman smiled, taking in the sight of his God  daughter.

She had been restricted to light duties on and off, if the call wasn't too severe Boden would allow her to take a trip out with truck but until then she was safe - or relitavely safe and sound with Ambo 61.

Emilia didn't speak just laugh, shifted slightly she tried to push herself up off the chair, with a helping hand from Kelly who had rushed over at an instant.

"You know this big brother mode is going to stop when the baby's here and there's diapers to change?" Emilia scoffed, Kelly had been a saint for the past few months, he had been at her beckon call whether ahe wanted him to or not.

Kelly shrugged, "maybe but whilst your here looking after the mini Halsted in your body then I'm going to be here looking after you". He said, not really giving her option to speak as he guided the swollen bodied women towards the womens, where she was heading.

"It's okay Kelly, I can take over from here." Gabby smiled, helping her close friend into the cubicles. Waiting for Kelly to be out of ear shot, she spoke. "I take it you haven't told them about your job offer?"

"Shh" Emilia hissed looking around desperately. "Of course not, they'll kill me!"

"They won't kill you, they'd be proud that there's more firefighters like you about." Gabby rolled her eyes.

Emilia pleaded in her eyes as she spoke "Yeah but not here, Detroit is hardly down the road is it?"

Gabby sighed still not sure of how to help the truck lieutenant, she was none wiser now than she was 7 weeks ago when Emilia broke the news to her, unintentionally. "How's Jay coping with the idea?"

Emilia couldn't help but scoff. "I get a year off before my post starts and he still thinks that living here will be a great idea until it comes to starting the job. I know he's worried about not being close to family but seriously? Isn't it doing more harm than good to uprooting them when they finally get settled? My parents did that to me and Jamie, he never forgave them." Emilia cried.

"Hey, hey now. The stress isn't good for the baby, I told you that Jay just needs to get over it and then things will all fall into place. It always does. You're Emilia Frances, if things don't go your way, you make em go that way." Gabby laughed.

Emilia had been head hunted by Detroit's National Institue for Prospective Fire fighters 10 weeks ago, they had written to and called her about the job position that they needed to fill in the City, it was for a Training Officer at the institute. When Emilia got the call she wasn't too sure what to say, she had been quick to inform them of her quick growing baby bump and had assured them that under no circumstances would she be cutting her maternity leave short. This hadn't seemed to be a problem for the institute as they offered her a salary that would be stupid to refuse and a benefit package that meant that child care would be covered and so would medical bills for not only her but her whole family too.

When Emilia finally got off the phone, she didn't know where to look or what to do. She had wondered around the firehouse aimlessly until she finally plucked the courage to call Jay and tell him the news. The next morning when she got home, she and Jay entered a massive argument which resulted in Emilia walking out and heading straight for Casey's and Dawson's. She arrived in floods of tears and Matt immediately began to panic and called Gabby to come and help him, with Matt making situations worse, his wife sent him to the other room and finally got Emilia to tell her. This had been the last time the job offer was mentioned and Gabby was still being ordered to keep quiet.

*****
Later that afternoon, Emilia was walking around the firehouse after finishing her paperwork, and Matt's. She soon found herself outside where Kelly was setting up the grill.

Looking up to the sky, Emilia chuckled. "Hardly grilling season is it?" She joked, quickly catching Kelly's attention.

"What you doing out here? It's too cold to be out here, go inside" He ushered.

Emilia huffed, "I'm 7 months pregnant not dying."

"Nearly 8, and nearly ready to pop. And I don't want to be on call when it happens, I've seen you crying enough this year," he chuckled, earning himself a soft shove from his longest friend.

"I wanted to know where you're keys were? I left my jacket in there, it's got my indigestion tablets in the pocket." She shrugged, starting to run her arms.

"Course, they're on my desk. Be careful, though," he said, using the spatula to point to the floor. "It's icy."

Rolling her eyes, but with a smile, she turned and headed back to the offices.

Emilia was soon at Kelly's office, smiling and greeting everyone as she passed. Pushing the door to, she picked up the keys that were amongst the paperwork on Kelly's desk. Before she could turn away, something caught her eye. It was a letter from Springfield hospital, writing to Kelly to invite him to the opening of the 'Anna Turner Nursery for Children with Cancer'. Emilia smiled sadly, remembering the young nurse that had succumb to her illness a few months ago. She wondered if Kelly was going, he hasn't mentioned anything to her or anyone that she was aware.

Only left to the thoughts in her head, she wondered out to the car.

*****

Here it is! FINALLY! Let me know your thoughts.