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

Chapter 35 "Hate To See You Unhappy"

~~LONG CHAPTER~~

It's six months later after Severide's funeral.
Shaylynn has been paying the rent on his place to avoid having to go through his things.
His will was read and everything was left to Shannara, Dominic, and Destiny through Shaylynn.
She knows everyone around her thinks it's time to clear his place out and move on with life but she just can't.
Clearing out his place would make it final. For some disturbing reason, she keeps thinking he could come back.

~~~~~~~~~~

Shaylynn wakes up and sits up in bed.
Looking to her left, she sees Halstead isn't on his side.
She runs her hands through her hair and looks around the room wishing she could go back to sleep.
Things between her and Halstead haven't been the greatest. He says he understands what she's going through but she knows he's lying.
Upton told her that she overheard Halstead talking to Ruzek in the locker room at the District saying he doesn't understand why she keeps paying rent on Severide's place. Why not just clear it out and get it over with.

Getting out of bed, she walks to her closet, picks out some clothes, then heads to the bathroom to get a shower.
Thirty minutes later, Shaylynn's walking down the stairs.
She walks into the kitchen to see Mary sitting at the table with JJ in his high chair.
Watching Mary feed him, JJ starts flapping his arms getting excited for another bite of bananas.
Shaylynn starts laughing and walks in further.
"Did Jay leave?" Shaylynn asks Mary.
"Yes, he took Shannara and Sia to school," Mary tells her.
Shaylynn nods at her grabbing a banana off the table, JJ watching her every move.
She peels the banana, as she raises it to her mouth JJ opens his up big and wide.
Both Mary and Shaylynn start laughing.
Shaylynn looks at the time, "I better be going," she tells Mary.
"Okay, see you later," Mary says.
Shaylynn bends over and kisses JJ on top of his head.
She walks out of the kitchen to find the other kids.
Finding Dominic and Titus in the game room she says goodbye to them. Wondering where Destiny and Trinity could be, she heads upstairs and finds them in Destiny's room playing.
After saying goodbye to them, she heads downstairs and finally heads out.

~~~~~~~~

Standing in the doorway of the Common room, Shaylynn looks around.
Cruz looks up and sees her. He hits Casey on the arm.
Casey looks at Cruz who points over to the doorway.
When Casey looks over he sees Shaylynn standing there.
"Shaylynn," Casey says jumping up out of his chair as everyone looks.
He hurries over to the doorway, "What can I do for you?" he asks her.
"I'm here to clean out Kelly's locker," she tells him.
Casey gets a surprised look on his face, "Are you sure? You know I can do it for you," he tells her.
She shakes her head 'no', "I can do it," she says.
"Alright, but I'll stay with you," Casey tells her as they start walking back to the locker room.
"If you wish," she tells him.
Shaylynn walks in with Casey behind her. She looks around at the places she and Severide were intimate.
Making her way to the locker, she sees that his name is still on it. She fights back the tears.
Casey walks up to it and unlocks it for her. He opens the door, the locker smells like Severide's cologne. Inside is his last set of clothes he wore to the Firehouse, pictures of the kids, and a picture of him and her on the Riverwalk in better times.
Shaylynn just stands there staring at the picture. Casey can't figure out what she's staring at so he looks around the door and sees it.
"Shaylynn, please let me do this for you," Casey pleads with her.
Shaylynn quickly shakes her head 'yes' and sits down on the bench before she falls.
Casey takes everything out of the locker putting everything gently in the box beside Shaylynn.
The last couple of things he takes out is the clothes. He folds them and places them on top of everything else.
"Thank you, Matt," Shaylynn says as she stands up then picks up the box.
"Is there anything else I can do for you?" Casey asks her.
Shaylynn shakes her head 'no', "I better go," she says and starts walking away.
"Shaylynn," Casey says.
She stops and turns around to look at him, "Are you heading home?" he asks her.
"No, I have some things to take care of," she tells him looking down at the floor.
She turns and walks out of the locker room.
Casey pulls his cell phone out of his pocket.