Trials, Tribulations and Triangles.-Chicago PD/Fire

Chapter 16 - Old Friends

Kelly walked Lexi and Jay through the wreckage of the building that had taken Shay's life. He explained where everyone was, the timeline of events and then they stood on the street Kelly explaining to Lexi the evidence he found that made him believe it was arson that lead to Trent Lamont.

"Thank you" Lexi told Kelly looking up at the building. "I know this can't have been easy for you."

"It's a little easier knowing the person responsible has paid for it" Kelly said looking at Jay "I never did thank you for that" Kelly held his hand out.

Jay took his hand and shook it "No thanks needed."

Lexi looked at their connected hands, it was good to see them getting along but she wished it was under different circumstances. She couldn't believe this was happening, she was the reason her sister was dead, her job had finally caught up with her.

Lexi bent at the waist, suddenly she felt like she couldn't breathe, she was gasping for breath. "Lexi" Jay said going to her side and putting his hand on her back "Are you okay?"

"She's hyperventilating" Kelly told him "sit her down before she passes out" Kelly commanded running to his car and retrieving a paper bag.

Jay guided Lexi to sit on the curb and sat beside her as Kelly returned giving her the bag and sitting on the other side of her. Jay rubbed her back gently in circular motions. "Just breathe, in and out, slow, deep breaths" Jay directed.

Lexi closed her eyes and breathed in to the bag. She was having a panic attack, everything was getting too much to handle, least of all she was sat between her ex-fiancé and her boyfriend who had been in a fist fight day's before. Her breathing slowed. "How do I tell my parents?" Lexi asked staring in to space, not focusing on anything in particular. "how do I tell them I'm responsible for Shay's death? All my choices, my job, everything that's happened is because of me."

"No" Kelly and Jay said in unison. Then both became silent waiting for the other to speak.

Lexi shook her head and spoke before either of them could find the words to make her feel better. "There's nothing either of you can say to change my mind" She told them "Shay was always the smart one, the responsible one. I was a tear away; I was the rebellious one. My parents would always tell me to stop and think before I did anything, think about what Shay would do in any given situation before I did anything. Now I have to tell them that the situation I created killed their daughter"

"Blaming yourself is not going to help anyone" Jay told her.

"As far as your parents know it was an accident, they don't need to know any different. Not until you're ready" Kelly said standing up. "I should get back, you got this?" Kelly asked looking at Jay.

Jay nodded "Yeah, thanks Kelly"

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Lexi crept through the house, sweeping her gun around rooms as she entered them, clearing them. It was eerily silent, the dark seemed the pulsate at her, the house illuminated only by the moonlight. She wanted to call out to Jay, needed to know his location. He had chased Calvin Poe in to the house, a single gun-shot had rung out as Lexi crossed the threshold then silence.

If she called out to Jay, she would give away her location to the perpetrator. Lexi cleared the first floor, finishing in the kitchen then she noticed the basement door slightly ajar.

She didn't want to go down there, every cell in her body told her not. She used her gun to push the door open wider, then walked one foot over the other down the basement steps, keeping her back against the wall.