The Thin Blue Line, Rage In Chicago #3 (Chicago PD/Jay Halstead)

Chapter 34 "Fire Trucks, Roses, and Rings"

Halstead takes Shaylynn to Severide's place.
It seems the drive there takes forever.

~~~~~~~

Halstead stands back by the door.
The look in Jennifer, Severide's Mom, and his children's eyes when Shaylynn tells them what happened rips Halstead's heart apart.
To see Shannara, Dominic, and Destiny break down is something Halstead will never forget for the rest of his life.
The kids run to Shaylynn and hug her, as Jennifer cries on the couch.
Looking over, they see Halstead and run over, like they know what their Dad told him before he died.
With the kids over with Halstead, Shaylynn sits down by Jennifer and puts her arms around her. She turns and starts crying on Shaylynn's shoulder.

~~~~~~~~

Three days later, it's time for Severide's funeral.

Shaylynn gets out of bed, takes her dress off a hook, picks up her accessories, and walks to the bathroom to get ready.
Since she wears black all the time, she refuses to wear it today.

She keeps wishing she would wake up from this bad dream.
Sitting down her eyeshadow palette, she puts her hands on the sink and puts her head down. She has to try and stay strong for the kids today even though she doesn't feel strong at all.
Shaylynn thinks about when she and Halstead came home that night and told Sia, Titus, and Trinity what happened to Severide, it broke her heart all over again.
Seeing the looks in their eyes after they were told, especially when they looked over at Halstead knowing something like that could happen to their father.
She looks up into the mirror to see Halstead standing behind her, "I don't know if I can do this," she tells him.
He walks over and puts his arms around her, "I'll be there with you every step of the way."
"But how can I be strong for the kids when I don't feel strong?" she asks him.
Halstead turns her around and looks into her eyes, "Just lean on me and I'll be strong for you," he tells her.
Shaylynn puts a hand on the side of Halsteads face, "What did I do to deserve a man like you?"
Halstead smiles at her, "I'm the lucky one," he tells her," "Emily has all the kids ready."
"I'm so thankful she came over to help out!" Shaylynn tells him when her phone rings.
"Hello,"
"Shaylynn," she hears.
"Sam?" Shaylynn questions.
"I am so sorry I haven't called sooner! Where we've been, the cell reception sucks!" Sam tells her, "I wish I could be there with you today."
"Thanks. I wish you could be here also. How did you find out?" Shaylynn asks.
"A newspaper," Sam tells her.
"So you're on the move?" Shaylynn asks.
"Yes, once again. While I have cell reception I wanted to call you," Sam says.
"I appreciate it," Shaylynn tells her sister, "Stay safe!"
"I will!" Sam says hanging up.
Halstead sees tears running down Shaylynn's face, "I think I'll just forget about putting eyeshadow and mascara on. I don't need to look like a raccoon today," she tells him.
He pulls her to him, "Emily and I are here for you and the kids, okay."
"I know. But I don't know if I'm going to be able to handle all the looks of people knowing I couldn't protect Kelly," Shaylynn says.
"This is not your fault! Do you understand?!" Halstead says to her, "You did nothing wrong!"
There's a knock on the bathroom door.
Halstead walks over and opens it, "Jennifer and Katie just arrived with the limo," Emily tells him.
"Okay, thanks Em. We'll be down in a couple of minutes," Halstead tells his sister.
He turns around to look at Shaylynn, "Are you ready?"
She lets out a sigh, "As ready as I'm ever going to be."
They make their way out of the bathroom and downstairs to see Shannara, Dominic, and Destiny huddled around Jennifer and Katie. Dominic and Destiny grab on to Jennifer's hands before they walk out the door, as Shannara takes Katie's hand.
Titus and Trinity walk over to Halstead, he puts his hands out to them. They grab his hands and walks out the door, with Sia behind them, following the others out to the limo.
Shaylynn looks at Emily, "Before everything starts, I want to say thank you for everything you have done," she tells her.
"You don't have to thank me, Shaylynn. That's what family's for," Emily tells her.
Emily can see tears in Shaylynn's eyes.
She walks up to Shaylynn and hugs her, "Everyone is here for you and the kids," Emily tells her.
Shaylynn backs up and wipes the tears off her face, "I shouldn't be acting like this! It's not like it's Jay's funeral," she says shaking her head, "What am I saying! If it was Jay's funeral you would be burying me beside him."
"I know you love Jay. And I know you love Kelly but it was a different type of love for him. Kelly is the father to three of your kids. People just don't stop loving each other after a divorce as much as people think they do. Sam and I have talked, she told me you and Kelly were pretty serious for each other, then tragedy happened. That has a way of tearing people apart. Some people are lucky enough to find one soulmate, you were able to find two," Emily says, "Of course you're going to be hurting even if you weren't with Kelly any longer."
"Thanks, Emily," Shaylynn says hugging her, "We better be going."
The two ladies walk out of the house and out to the limo.